Quarternary ammonium perfluoroalkoxy salts for preparation of perfluoropolyethers

1. A process to produce anhydrous tetraalkyl pnictogen perfluoroalkoxy salts comprising contacting a hydrofluoroether and an amine wherein the amine is

or mixtures thereof;

wherein Z is N or P; Rf2 is a linear or branched fluoroalkyl of 1 to 10 carbons; —R1, —R2, —R3, —R4, —R5, —R6, —R7, —R9, —R10, —R12, —R13, —R14, and —R15 are each independently hydrogen or alkyl of 1 to 10 carbons wherein the alkyl may be linear, branched, or cyclic; —R8, —R11, and —R14 are each independently divalent alkyl of 1 to 10 carbons wherein the alkyl may be linear, branched, or cyclic; each X is independently a halogen; and a is an integer from 0 to 5, to produce the tetraalkyl pnictogen perfluoroalkoxy salt in the presence of a solvent.

2. A process of claim 1 , further comprising decomposing the tetraalkyl pnictogen perfluoroalkoxy salt to produce a tetraalkyl pnictogen fluoride salt and a perfluoroalkyl acid fluoride.

3. A process of claim 2 , further comprising separating the tetraalkyl pnictogen fluoride salt from the perfluoroalkyl acid fluoride and the solvent.

4. A process of claim 1 , wherein the hydrofluoroether is R—O—R wherein R is a linear, branched or cyclic fluoroalkyl of 1 to 10 carbons optionally substituted by Cl, Br or I, non-fluorinated aryls, or non-fluorinated cyclic groups of formula —C n Y 2n wherein each Y is independently H, O—R′, Cl, Br or I wherein —R′ is an linear, branched or cyclic alkyl of 1 to 10 carbons; and —R is methyl, ethyl, or propyl.

5. A process of claim 1 , wherein the solvent is a hydrofluoroether.