Optical members, and processes, compositions and polymers for preparing them

1 - 21 . (canceled)

22 . A polymerizable composition comprising a polymerizable monomer composition comprising a compound (A) denoted by Formula (1) shown below and a compound (B) denoted by Formula (2) shown below:

where X 1 and X 2 respectively denote hydrogen (H) or deuterium (D) and two X 1 's and two X 2 s may be identical or different each other; Y 1 and Y 2 respectively denote H, D, CH 3 , CD 3 or fluorine (F); R 1 is a branched C3-8 alkyl group; R 2 is a C1-7 fluoroalkyl group substituted with 1 to 15 fluorine atoms; and the compound (A) to the compound (B) mole ratio is not less than 1/100 and less than 4/1; and

a polymerization initiator capable of initiating polymerization of the polymerizable monomer composition.

23 . The composition of claim 22 further comprising a chain transfer agent.

24 . The composition of claim 22 further comprising a refractive index adjuster having a different refractive index from that of the polymerizable monomer composition.

25 . A process for preparing an optical member comprising polymerizing a composition of claim 22 to form a region having a distributed refractive index.

26 . The process of claim 25 wherein the polymerization is carried out according to an interfacial-gel polymerization.

27 . An optical member prepared by a process of claim 25 .

28 . An optical member comprising a core region having a distributed refractive index, which is prepared by polymerization of a composition of claim 22 and a clad region cladding the core region.

29 . An optical member essentially formed of a copolymer denoted by Formula (X):

where X 1 and X 2 respectively denote hydrogen (H) or deuterium (D) and two X 1 's and two X 2 s may be identical or different each other; Y 1 and Y 2 respectively denote H, D, CH 3 , CD 3 or fluorine (F); R 1 is a branched C3-8 alkyl group; R 2 is a C1-7 fluoroalkyl group substituted with 1 to 15 fluorine atoms; m and n respectively denote a mole ratio of a repeating unit provided that m/n is not less than 1/100 and less than 4/1.

30 . The optical member of claim 29 wherein the copolymer has a weight-average molecular weight within a range from 10,000 to 1,000,000.

31 . The optical member of claim 29 comprising a region comprising a matrix formed of the copolymer and a compound contained in the matrix wherein the region has a concentration distribution of the compound, thereby having the distribution in the refractive index.

32 . An optical fiber prepared by drawing an optical member of claim 27 .

33 . An optical fiber prepared by drawing an optical member of claim 28 .

34 . An optical fiber prepared by drawing an optical member of claim 29 .

35 . A process for preparing an optical member comprising polymerizing a polymerizable composition comprising a polymerizable monomer composition comprising a compound denoted by Formula (3):

where X 3 denotes hydrogen (H) or deuterium (D) and two X 3 s may be identical or different each other; Y 3 is H, D, CH 3 or CD 3 ; and R 3 is a C7-20 alicyclic hydrocarbon group; a polymerization initiator for initiating the polymerizable monomer composition; and a compound having a different refractive index from that of the polymerizable monomer composition, in a hollow vessel, to form a polymer toward a center from an inner surface of the vessel.

36 . The process of claim 35 , wherein the polymerizable monomer composition further comprises a compound denoted by Formula (4):

where X 4 is H or D and two X 4 s may be identical or different each other; Y 4 is H, D, CH 3 or CD 3 ; and R 4 is a C1-7 fluoroalkyl group substituted with 1 to 15 fluorine atoms.

37 . The process of claim 33 , wherein the polymerization of the polymerizable composition is carried out according to an interfacial-gel polymerization.

38 . A process for preparing an optical member comprising polymerizing a polymerizable composition comprising a polymerizable monomer composition comprising a compound denoted by Formula (3):

where X 3 denotes hydrogen (H) or deuterium (D) and two X 3 s may be identical or different each other; Y 3 is H, D, CH 3 or CD 3 ; and R 3 is a C7-20 alicyclic hydrocarbon group; a polymerization initiator for initiating the polymerizable monomer composition; and a compound having a different refractive index from that of the polymerizable monomer composition, to form a region having a distributed refractive index.

39 . The process of claim 38 , wherein the polymerizable monomer composition further comprises a compound denoted by Formula (4):

where X 4 is H or D and two X 4 s may be identical or different each other; Y 4 is H, D, CH 3 or CD 3 ; and R 4 is a C1-7 fluoroalkyl group substituted with 1 to 15 fluorine atoms.

40 . An optical member prepared by a process of claim 35 .

41 . An optical member prepared by a process of claim 38 .

42 . An optical member comprising a region having a distributed refractive index which is essentially formed of a polymer having a molecular weight from 10,000 to 1,000,000 and comprising a repeating unit denoted by Formula (X-1):

where X 3 denotes hydrogen (H) or deuterium (D) and two X 3 s may be identical or different each other; Y 3 is H, D, CH 3 or CD 3 ; and R 3 is a C7-20 alicyclic hydrocarbon group.

43 . The optical member of claim 42 wherein the polymer further comprises a repeating unit denoted by Formula (X-2):

where X 4 is H or D and two X 4 s may be identical or different each other; Y 4 is H, D, CH 3 or CD 3 ; and R 4 is a C1-7 fluoroalkyl group substituted with 1 to 15 fluorine atoms.

44 . The optical member of claim 42 comprising a region comprising a matrix formed of the polymer and a compound contained in the matrix wherein the region has a concentration distribution of the compound, thereby having the distribution in the refractive index.

45 . An optical fiber prepared by drawing an optical member of 40 .

46 . An optical fiber prepared by drawing an optical member of 41 .

47 . An optical fiber prepared by drawing an optical member of 42 .