Process for the purification of polyol PFPE derivatives

1. A process for the purification of a polyol (per)fluoropolyether derivative [polyol (P)] from a mixture of hydroxyl (per)fluoropolyether derivatives [mixture (M)],

said polyol (P) comprising one or more hydroxyl (per)fluoropolyether derivatives [PFPE (OH)] comprising at least one (per)fluoropolyoxyalkylene chain (chain R f ) and at least one end-group having formula (t 3 );

—CF 2 CH 2 OCH 2 CH(OH)CH 2 OCH 2 CH(OH)CH 2 OH,

said mixture (M) comprising said polyol (P) and at least one hydroxyl (per)fluoropolyether derivative [PFPE (OH)], said PFPE(OH) being different from said polyol (P) and comprising at least one (per)fluoropolyoxyalkylene chain (chain R f ) and at least one end-group selected from the group consisting of end-groups having formula (t 1 ): —CF 2 CH 2 OH and end-groups having formula (t 2 ):

—CF 2 CH 2 OCH 2 CH(OH)CH 2 OH,

said process comprising the following steps:

step 1: reacting said mixture (M) with a ketone, an aldehyde, or a combination thereof so as to yield a corresponding mixture of cyclic ketal/acetal (per)fluoropolyether derivatives [PFPEs (OH) p ] [protected mixture (P)];

step 2: carrying out a molecular distillation of said protected mixture (P) so as to isolate a protected product heavy residue [product (P r )];

step 3: hydrolyzing said product (P r ) so as to yield a deprotected product [product (P d )]; and

step 4: carrying out a distillation under reduced pressure of said product (P d ) so as to obtain said polyol (P).

2. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the said hydroxyl (per)fluoropolyether derivative [PFPE (OH)] complies with formula (III-A):

T 1 -O(CF 2 O) c1 (CF 2 CF 2 O) c2 -T 2

wherein:

said T 1 and T 2 , equal to or different from each other, are independently selected from the group consisting of said end-groups having said formula (t 1 ), said end-groups having said formula (t 2 ), and said end groups having said formula (t 3 ); and

said c1 and c2 are independently integers >0 such that the sum c1+c2 is in the range between 5 and 2000, the recurring units being statistically distributed along said (per)fluoropolyoxyalkylene chain.

3. The process according to claim 1 ,

wherein said polyol (P) comprises said hydroxyl (per)fluoropolyether derivative [PFPE (OH)] complying with a formula (III-A):

T 1 -O(CF 2 O) c1 (CF 2 CF 2 O) c2 -T 2 and

wherein one of said T 1 and T 2 is an end-group having said formula (t 3 ) the remainder being an end-group having said formula (t 2 ).

4. The process according to claim 1 , wherein said mixture (M) comprises said polyol (P) and at least one hydroxyl (per)fluoropolyether derivative [PFPE (OH)] which is different from said polyol (P) and which complies with a formula (III-A):

T1-O(CF 2 O) c1 (CF 2 CF 2 O) c2 -T 2 ,

wherein:

said T 1 and T 2 , equal to or different from each other, are independently selected from the group consisting of said end-groups having said formula (t 1 ) and said end-groups having said formula (t 2 );

said c1 and c2 are independently integers >0 such that the sum c1+c2 is in the range between 5 and 2000, the recurring units being statistically distributed along said (per)fluoropolyoxyalkylene chain.

5. The process according to claim 1 , wherein said mixture (M) is manufactured by reacting at least one diol (per)fluoropolyether derivative [PFPE (OH) 2 ] comprising at least one said (per)fluoropolyoxyalkylene chain (chain R f ) and two diol end-groups with glycidol.

6. The process according to claim 5 , wherein said diol (per)fluoropolyether derivative [PFPE (OH) 2 ] complies with formula (I-A):

T 1 -O—R f -T 2 ,

wherein:

said R f is said (per)fluoropolyoxyalkylene chain (chain R f ); and

said T 1 and T 2 both comply with end-groups having said formula (t 1 ).

7. The process according to claim 5 , wherein said diol (per)fluoropolyether derivative [PFPE (OH) 2 ] has a polydispersity index (PDI) ranging from 1 to 1.4.

8. The process according to claim 1 , wherein said glycidol/PFPE (OH) 2 equivalent ratio is higher than 1.1 and lower than 1.4.

9. The process according to claim 1 , wherein said cyclic ketal/acetal (per)fluoropolyether derivative [PFPE (OH) p ] complies with formula (I-B):

T′ 1 —O—R f -T′ 2 ,

wherein:

said R f is said (per)fluoropolyoxyalkylene chain (chain R f ); and

said T′ 1 and T′ 2 , equal to or different from each other, are independently selected from the group consisting of said end-groups having said formulae (t 1 ) end groups having a formula (t 2p ), and end groups having a formula (t 3p ):

10. The process according to claim 9 , wherein said protected mixture (P) comprises a hemi-protected polyol (P) [polyol (P p )], said polyol (P p ) comprising one or more said cyclic ketal/acetal (per)fluoropolyether derivatives [PFPEs (OH) p ] comprising at least one said (per)fluoropolyoxyalkylene chain (chain R f ) and at least one end-group having said formula (t 3p ), and at least one said cyclic ketal/acetal (per)fluoropolyether derivative [PFPE (OH) p ] which is different from said polyol (P p ) and comprises at least one said (per)fluoropolyoxyalkylene chain (chain R f ) and at least one end-group selected from the group consisting of end-groups having said formulae (t 1 ) and end-groups having said formula (t 2 p).