Trifluorovinyl aromatic containing poly(alkyl ether) prepolymers

1. A poly(alkyl ether) polymer or copolymer containing one or more perfluorocyclobutane aromatic ether radicals in the polymer backbone.

2. The poly(alkyl ether) polymer or copolymer of claim 1 , which is a polymerization product of a monomeric mixture comprising one or trifluorovinyl aromatic ether containing poly(alkyl ether) prepolymers of the general formula T-(P) n -T wherein n is 1 to about 100,000, T is independently of the general formula

wherein L is an optional linking group and is independently a straight or branched C 1 -C 30 alkylene group, a C 3 -C 30 cycloalkylene group, a C 5 -C 30 arylene group, an ether group, a C 1 -C 20 ester group, an amide group, a siloxanyl, an arylsiloxanyl or a fluorosiloxanyl, and R 1 is the same or different and comprises a substituted or unsubstituted cyclic or polycyclic group optionally containing one or more heteroatoms; and P is independently an oxyalkylene radical of the general formula

wherein R 2 and R 3 are independently hydrogen, a straight or branched C 1 -C 6 alkyl group, a C 3 -C 30 cycloalkyl group, a C 5 -C 30 aryl group, a straight or branched C 1 -C 6 fluoroalkyl group, a C 3 -C 30 fluorocycloalkyl group, a C 5 -C 30 fluoroaryl group, an ether group, a C 1 -C 20 ester group, an amide group an amine group, fluorine, a vinyl group, or a hydroxyl group and m is 1 to about 10.

3. The poly(alkyl ether) polymer or copolymer of claim 2 , wherein R 1 is one or more aromatic groups selected from the group consisting of

wherein R is independently hydrogen, a C 1 -C 20 alkyl group, a hydroxyl group, a C 1 -C 20 carboxylic acid group, a C 1 -C 20 ester group, a C 1 -C 20 alkoxy group, CO 2 − , SO 3 − , PO 3 − , OPO 3 2− , F, Br, I, NA 2 or NA 3 + wherein A is independently hydrogen, a C 1 -C 20 alkyl group, a hydroxyl group, a C 1 -C 20 carboxylic acid group, a C 1 -C 20 ester group, or a C 1 -C 20 alkoxy group, or two R groups together with the carbon atom to which they are bonded are joined together to form a cyclic structure optionally containing one or more heterocyclic groups; R 4 is a bond, a C 1 -C 20 alkylene or haloalkylene group optionally containing ether or ester linkages and wherein the O atom and either the L or P group may independently be bonded to the aromatic group either ortho, meta and/or para with respect one another.

4. The poly(alkyl ether) polymer or copolymer of claim 2 , wherein R 1 is an aromatic group selected from the group consisting of

wherein R is independently hydrogen, a C 1 -C 20 alkyl group, a hydroxyl group, a C 1 -C 20 carboxylic acid group, a C 1 -C 20 ester group, a C 1 -C 20 alkoxy group, CO 2 − , SO 3 − , PO 3 − , OPO 3 2− , F, Br, I, NA 2 or NA 3 + wherein A is independently hydrogen, a C 1 -C 20 alkyl group, a hydroxyl group, a C 1 -C 20 carboxylic acid group, a C 1 -C 20 ester group, or a C 1 -C 20 alkoxy group, or two R groups together with the carbon atom to which they are bonded are joined together to form a cyclic structure optionally containing one or more heterocyclic groups; R 4 is a bond, a C 1 -C 20 alkylene or haloalkylene group optionally containing ether or ester linkages and wherein the O atom and either the L or P group may independently be bonded to the aromatic group either ortho, meta and/or para with respect one another and R 2 and R 3 are independently a straight or branched C 1 -C 6 alkyl group or a straight or branched C 1 -C 6 fluoroalkyl group.

5. The poly(alkyl ether) polymer or copolymer of claim 2 , wherein R 2 and R 3 are independently a straight or branched C 1 -C 6 alkyl group.

6. The poly(alkyl ether) polymer or copolymer of claim 2 , wherein R 2 and R 3 are independently a straight or branched C 1 -C 6 fluoroalkyl group.

7. The poly(alkyl ether) polymer or copolymer of claim 2 , wherein n is 3 to about 10,000, and R 2 and R 3 are independently a straight or branched C 1 -C 6 alkyl group and the oxyalkylene units are formed as random copolymers.

8. The poly(alkyl ether) polymer or copolymer of claim 2 , wherein n is 3 to about 10,000, R 2 and R 3 are independently a straight or branched C 1 -C 6 alkyl group and the oxyalkylene units are formed as block copolymers.

9. The poly(alkyl ether) polymer or copolymer of claim 2 , wherein n is 3 to about 10,000, and R 2 and R 3 are independently a straight or branched C 1 -C 6 fluoroalkyl group and the oxyalkylene units are formed as random copolymers.

10. The poly(alkyl ether) polymer or copolymer of claim 2 , wherein n is 3 to about 10,000, and R 2 and R 3 are independently a straight or branched C 1 -C 6 fluoroalkyl group and the oxyalkylene units are formed as block copolymers.

11. The poly(alkyl ether) polymer or copolymer of claim 2 , wherein the monomeric mixture further comprises one or more crosslinking monomers and/or one or more wetting agents.

12. The poly(alkyl ether) polymer or copolymer of claim 2 , wherein the monomeric mixture further comprises one or more prepolymers selected from the group consisting of poly(siloxane) prepolymers, poly(aromatic ether) prepolymers, poly(perfluorocyclobutane) prepolymers, copolymers thereof and mixtures thereof.

13. The poly(alkyl ether) polymer or copolymer of claim 2 , which is selected from the group consisting of

wherein x, y and z are independently 0 and at least 1 with x+y+z being from 1 to equal to or less than about 10,000 and R 5 is independently hydrogen or a C 1 -C 4 alkyl group; and

wherein m and n are independently 0 and at least 1 with m+n being from 1 to equal to or less than about 10,000.

14. A biomedical device comprising the poly(alkyl ether) polymer or copolymer of claim 1 .

15. The biomedical device of claim 14 , which is an ophthalmic lens.

16. The biomedical device of claim 15 , wherein the ophthalmic lens is a contact lens.

17. The biomedical device of claim 16 , wherein the contact lens is a rigid gas permeable lens.