Fluorinated polyether compound, lubricant, liquid composition and article

1. A fluorinated polyether compound represented by the following formula (A):

{X—O—[(CF 2 CF 2 O) a —(CF 2 CF 2 CF 2 CF 2 O) b ]} m —Y—{[(OCF 2 CF 2 ) c —(OCF 2 CF 2 CF 2 CF 2 ) d ]—O—Z} n   (A)

wherein X is a group having a hydroxy group, a carboxy group, an ester group or an aryl group,

Y is an (m+n) valent linking group having no etheric oxygen atom at its terminals,

Z is a group not having a hydroxy group, a carboxy group, an ester group or an aryl group, and having a haloalkyl group (provided that the halogen atom is a fluorine atom or a chlorine atom) or a haloalkyl group (provided that the halogen atom is a fluorine atom or a chlorine atom) having an etheric oxygen atom inserted between carbon-carbon atoms,

m is an integer of from 1 to 10,

n is an integer from 0 to 10,

m+n is an integer of from 2 to 20, and

a, b, c and d are each independently an integer of from 1 to 100, provided that the linking order of a number of (CF 2 CF 2 O) units and b number of (CF 2 CF 2 CF 2 CF 2 O) units in [(CF 2 CF 2 O) a —(CF 2 CF 2 CF 2 CF 2 O) b ], and the linking order of c number of (OCF 2 CF 2 ) units and d number of (OCF 2 CF 2 CF 2 CF 2 ) units in [(OCF 2 CF 2 ) c —(OCF 2 CF 2 CF 2 CF 2 ) d ], are not limited.

2. The fluorinated polyether compound according to claim 1 , which has a number average molecular weight of from 500 to 50,000.

3. The fluorinated polyether compound according to claim 1 , wherein b/(a+b) is from 0.2 to 0.8, and d/(c+d) is from 0.2 to 0.8.

4. The fluorinated polyether compound according to claim 1 , which has a structure wherein (OCF 2 CF 2 ) units and (OCF 2 CF 2 CF 2 CF 2 ) units are alternately arranged.

5. The fluorinated polyether compound according to claim 1 , wherein X is a HOCH 2 CH(OH)CH 2 OCH 2 CF 2 CF 2 CF 2 — group or a HOCH 2 CH(OH)CH 2 OCH 2 CF 2 — group.

6. A fluorinated polyether compound represented by the following formula (B):

X—O—[(CF 2 CF 2 O) g —(CF 2 CF 2 CF 2 CF 2 O) h ]—W  (B)

wherein X is a group having a hydroxy group, a carboxy group, an ester group or an aryl group,

W is a group having a hydroxy group, a carboxy group, an ester group, an aryl group, or a haloalkyl group (provided that the halogen atom is a fluorine atom or a chlorine atom) or a haloalkyl group (provided that the halogen atom is a fluorine atom or a chlorine atom) having an etheric oxygen atom inserted between carbon-carbon atoms, and

g and h are each independently an integer of from 1 to 200, provided that the linking order of g number of (CF 2 CF 2 O) units and h number of (CF 2 CF 2 CF 2 CF 2 O) units in [(CF 2 CF 2 O) g —(CF 2 CF 2 CF 2 CF 2 O) h ] is not limited.

7. The fluorinated polyether compound according to claim 6 , which has a number average molecular weight of from 500 to 50,000.

8. The fluorinated polyether compound according to claim 6 , wherein h/(g+h) is from 0.2 to 0.8.

9. The fluorinated polyether compound according to claim 6 , which has a structure wherein (CF 2 CF 2 O) units and (CF 2 CF 2 CF 2 CF 2 O) units are alternately arranged.

10. The fluorinated polyether compound according to claim 6 , wherein X is a HOCH 2 CH(OH)CH 2 OCH 2 CF 2 CF 2 CF 2 — group or a HOCH 2 CH(OH)CH 2 OCH 2 CF 2 — group.

11. A lubricant comprising the fluorinated polyether compound as defined in claim 1 .

12. A lubricant comprising the fluorinated polyether compound as defined in claim 6 .

13. A liquid composition comprising the fluorinated polyether compound as defined in claim 1 and a liquid medium.

14. A liquid composition comprising the fluorinated polyether compound as defined in claim 6 and a liquid medium.

15. An article comprising a substrate and, formed thereon, a film containing the fluorinated polyether compound as defined in claim 1 .

16. An article comprising a substrate and, formed thereon, a film containing the fluorinated polyether compound as defined in claim 6 .