Fluoropolyether compound

1. A fluoropolyether compound of the following formula (A):

(X—) x Y(—Z) z   (A)

wherein

X is a group of formula (X)

HO—(CH 2 CH 2 O) a —(CH 2 CH(OH)CH 2 O) b —(CH 2 ) c —CF 2 O(CF 2 CF 2 O) d —  (X)

wherein

a is an integer of from 0 to 100,

b is an integer of from 0 to 100,

c is an integer of from 1 to 100, and

d is an integer of from 1 to 200;

Z is a group of formula (Z):

R F O(CF 2 CF 2 O) g —  (Z)

wherein

R F is a C 1-20 perfluoroalkyl group or a group having an etheric oxygen atom inserted between carbon-carbon atoms of such a perfluoroalkyl group with the proviso that the group has no —OCF 2 O— structure, and

g is an integer of from 3 to 200,

Y is a (x+z) valent perfluorinated saturated hydrocarbon group, or a (x+z) valent perfluorinated saturated hydrocarbon group having an etheric oxygen atom inserted between carbon-carbon atoms, having no —OCF 2 O— structure;

wherein

x is an integer of at least 2,

z is an integer of at least 0, and

(x+z) is an integer of from 3 to 20, provided that when x is at least 2, groups represented by the formula (X) may be the same or different, and when z is at least 2, groups represented by the formula (Z) may be the same or different.

2. The compound according to claim 1 , wherein (X) is any group selected from the group consisting of

HOCH 2 CF 2 O(CF 2 CF 2 O) d —  (X-1)

HOCH 2 CH(OH)CH 2 OCH 2 CF 2 O(CF 2 CF 2 O) d —  (X-2)

HOCH 2 CH 2 CF 2 O(CF 2 CF 2 O) d —  (X-3)

HOCH 2 CH 2 OCH 2 CF 2 O(CF 2 CF 2 O) d —  (X-4)

wherein

d is an integer of from 1 to 200.

3. The compound according to claim 2 , wherein the compound of formula (A) is a compound of formula (A-1) or (A-2):

(X 10 —) 3 Y 3   (A-1)

(X 10 —) 4 Y 4   (A-2)

wherein

X 10 is any group selected from the groups consisting of (X-1) to (X-4),

Y 3 is a trivalent perfluoroalkyl group, and

Y 4 is a tetravalent perfluoroalkyl group.

4. The compound according to claim 2 , wherein the compound of formula (A) is a compound of formula (A-3):

(X 10 —) 2 Y 3 —Z   (A-3)

wherein

X 10 is any group selected from the group consisting of (X-1) to (X-4), and

Y 3 is a trivalent perfluoroalkyl group.

5. The fluoropolyether compound according to claim 1 , wherein the compound of formula (A) has a molecular weight of from 500 to 1,000,000 as measured by gel permeation chromatography and has a molecular weight distribution of from 1.0 to 1.5.

6. A solution composition, comprising:

the fluoropolyether compound as defined in claim 1 ; and

an organic solvent.

7. The solution composition according to claim 6 , wherein

a concentration of the fluoropolyether compound is from 0.01 to 50 mass %.

8. A lubricant, a surface modifier or a surfactant, comprising the fluoropolyether compound as defined in claim 1 .

9. The compound according to claim 3 , wherein the compound of formula (A) is a compound according to formula (A-1), wherein

Y 3 is —CF 2 —CF—CF 2 — or CF(CF 2 —) 3 .

10. The compound according to claim 3 , wherein the compound of formula (A) is a compound according to formula (A-2), wherein

Y 4 is C(CF 2 —) 4 .

11. The compound according to claim 4 , wherein

Y 3 is —CF 2 —CF—CF 2 — or CF(CF 2 —) 3 .

12. The solution composition according to claim 6 , wherein the solvent is a perfluoroamine or a perfluoroalkane.