FLUORINE-CONTAINING MONO- OR POLY-ALKYLENE GLYCOL AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING SAME

Abstract: The novel fluorine-containing mono- or poly-­ alkylene glycol of this invention is a mono- or poly-alkylene glycol of the formula (I): wherein R¹, R² and R³ independently represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 30 carbon atoms, A represents a hydrogen atom, an unsaturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 30 carbon atoms, a polar group or a polar group substituted with an unsaturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 100 carbon atoms, B represents the same as the group selected from the group of A, provided that both A and B are not hyudrogen atom, or a hydro­ carbon group having 1 to 30 carbon atoms which may contain an oxygen atom or fluorine atom, x represents an integer of 0 to 100, and n represents an integer of 1 to 1000, the mono- or poly-oxyalkylene group in the main chain of the mono- or poly-alkylene glycol having at least one fluorine-substituted hydrocarbon group with 2 to 30 carbon atoms having at least 3 fluorine atoms bonded thereto graft-bonded onto the mono- or poly-­ oxyalkylene group in the main chain of the mono- or poly-alkylene glycol per one molecule of the mono- or poly-alkylene glycol.

Description: The present invention relates to a fluorine-containing mono- or poly-alkylene glycol di(meth)acrylate to be used in producing a polymer suitable for contact lenses and having an excellent oxygen permeability, water swellability and contamination resistance. A polymer for a contact lens must have oxygen permeability, and polymers obtained by polymerization of a monomer such as methyl methacrylate or a methacrylic acid ester type compound have previously been used. However, most such polymers have an inferior oxygen permeability and a lens made of such a polymer cannot be worn for a long time. To improve the oxygen permeability of a methacrylic acid ester polymer, it has been proposed to make contact lenses of a silicone methacrylate type polymer having siloxane bonds introduced into methacrylic acid ester molecules (see, for example, JP-B-52-33502), of an oxygen permeable polymer composed mainly of cellulose acetate butyrate, and of a fluorine-containing methacrylate type polymer (see, for example, JP-A-57-51705 and JP-A-61-111308). Although these polymers have an improved oxygen permeability, compared with the methacrylic acid ester type polymers such as polymethyl methacrylate of the prior art, they are still not satisfactory, and polymers having a further improved oxygen permeability are required. Also, these polymers do not have satisfactory contamination resistance, hydrophilic property and water swellability. EP-A-0152065 provides a water- and oil-repelling and non-tackifying coating material comprising an omega-perfluoroalkyl-1,2-epoxyalkane copolymer. The copolymer is a polyester or polyether having a perfluoroalkyl group as side chain and is useful as a coating material for solid substrates such as fabrics, metals, glass, ceramics and natural and synthetic polymers. Examples 1 and 2 illustrate copolymers having polyether backbone chains and perfluoroalkyl side groups derived from a compound of formula and a mixture of compounds of formula (where m is 3 to 7), respectively. According to the present invention there is provided a fluorine-containing mono or poly-alkylene glycol di(meth)acrylate obtainable by graft bonding an unsaturated fluorohydrocarbon having 2 to 30 carbon atoms and at least 3 fluorine atoms to a mono- or poly-alkylene glycol of the formula [I] wherein R₁, R₂ and R₃ independently represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 30 carbon atoms, x represents an integer of 0 to 100 and n represents an integer of 1 to 1000 to produce a fluorine-containing mono- or poly-alkylene glycol comprising at least one fluorohydrocarbon group of 2 to 30 carbon atoms and at least 3 fluorine atoms in place of at least one R₁, R₂ or R₃ substituent, and reacting the fluorine-containing mono- or poly-alkylene glycol with a (meth)acrylylating agent to produce a fluorine-containing mono- or poly-alkylene di(meth)acrylate. The fluorine-containing mono- or poly-alkylene glycol di(meth)acrylate of the invention which can be used to prepare a polymer for contact lenses having excellent oxygen permeability and excellent hydrophilic property, water swellability and contamination resistance. In formula (I), R¹, R² and R³ independently represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 30 carbon atoms, and specific examples of the alkyl group include methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl and pentyl groups. In formula (I), x is in the range of 0 to 100, preferably 0 to 30, and n is in the range of 1 to 1000, preferably 1 to 500. Specific examples of the mono- and poly-alkylene glycol represented by formula (I) include the following compounds: and mixtures thereof. Specific examples of the fluorohydrocarbon group having 2 to 30 carbon atoms and at least 3 fluorine atoms to be graft bonded in place of at least one of the R₁, R₂ or R₃ substituents of the mono- or poly-alkylene glycol of the formula (I) as described above include the compounds shown below: -CF₂CFHCF₃, -CF₂CFHC₂F₅, -CF₃CFHC₄F₉, -CF₂CFHC₆F₁₃, -CF₂CFHC₁₀F₂₁, -CF₂CFHCF₂H, -CF₂CFH(CF₂)₂H, -CF₂CFH(CF₂)₄H, -CF₂CFH(CF₂)₆H, -CF₂CFH(CF₂)₇H, -CF₂CFH(CF₂)₈H, -CF₂CFH(CF₂)₉H, -CF₂CFH(CF₂)₁₀H, -CH₂CH₂CF₃, -CH₂CH₂C₂F₅, -CH₂CH₂(CF₂)₆H, -CF₂CFHCF₂C(CF₃)₃, -CF₂CFHCF₂CH(C₂F₅)₂, Preferably, the fluorohydrocarbon group has 2 to 20 carbon atoms and at least 3 fluorine atoms. The fluorohydrocarbon group is graft bonded in place of at least one R₁, R₂ or R₃ substituent of the mono- or poly-alkylene glycol represented by formula (I) and the grafting ratio of the fluorohydrocarbon group is at least one, preferably 1 to 20, per molecule of the mono- or poly-alkylene glycol, with the result that the fluorine-containing mono- or poly-alkylene glycol obtained has 3 to 400, preferably 3 to 200 fluorine atoms, per molecule. The fluorohydrocarbon group having 2 to 30 carbon atoms and at least 3 fluorine atoms can be introduced into the compound represented by the formula (I) by reacting an unsaturated fluorohydrocarbon having 2 to 30 carbon atoms and at least 3 fluorine atoms with a mono- or poly-alkylene glycol. Examples of the unsaturated fluorohydrocarbon as described above include the following compounds: CF₂=CFCH₃, CF₂=CFC₂H₅, CF₂=CFC₄F₉, CF₂=CFC₆F₁₃, CF₂=CFC₁₀F₂₁, CF₂=CFCF₃, CF₂=CFCF₂H, CF₂=CF(CF₂)₂H, CF₂=CF(CF₂)₄H, CF₂=CF(CF₂)₆H, CF₂=CF(CF₂)₇H, CF₂=CF(CF₂)₈H, CF₂=CF(CF₂)₉H, CF₂=CF(CF₂)₁₀H, CH₂=CHCF₃, CH₂=CHC₂F₅, CH₂=CH(CF₂)₆H, CF₂=CFCF₂C(CF₃)₃, CF₂-CFCF₂CH(C₂F₅)₂, CF₂=CF·CF=CF₂, Specific examples of the fluorine-containing mono- or poly-alkylene glycol di(meth)acrylate according to the present invention include the following: In the above compounds p and q are integers such that the sum of p and q is from 1 to 1000. The fluorine-containing mono- or poly-alkylene glycol di(meth)acrylate of the invention is produced by (meth)acrylylating the fluorine-containing mono- or poly-alkylene glycol obtained by graft bonding the unsaturated fluorohydrocarbon to the mono- or poly-alkylene glycol of formula [I]. The reaction of the mono- or poly-alkylene glycol of formula [I] with the unsaturated fluorohydrocarbon is carried out generally in the presence of a reaction initiator and a solvent. The reaction initiator to be used in carrying out the reaction specifically includes isobutyryl peroxide, 1-hexylperoxyneohexanoate, 2,4-dichlorobenzoylperoxide, octanoylperoxide, cumylperoxyoctoate, m-toluoylperoxide, benzoylperoxide, t-butylperoxyacetate, t-butylperoxybenzoate, t-butylcumylperoxide, di-tertiary-butylperoxide and t-butyl hydroperoxide, and may be used in an amount of 0.1 mmol/liter to 10 mol/liter, preferably 10 mmol/liter, to 1 mol/liter. Specific examples of the solvent to be used in the reaction include benzene, toluene, xylene, chlorobenzene, dichlorobenzene, benzotrifluoride, chlorobenzotrifluoride and xylene hexafluoride. The reaction may be carried out at 20 to 300°C, preferably 50 to 200°C, for 2 to 50 hours. After completion of the reaction, the fluorine-containing mono- or poly-alkylene glycol is separated according to the following treatment. Namely, if the product is a liquid fluorine-containing mono- or poly-alkylene glycol having a low molecular weight, the product can be distilled, or extracted by a solvent mixture of water and diethyl ether into diethyl ether, followed by concentration and distillation, to separate the fluorine-containing mono- or poly-alkylene glycol formed. If the product is a solid having a high molecular weight, separation can be effected only by concentrating the reaction product to evaporate the solvent and unreacted fluoroolefin. Subsequently, the fluorine-containing mono- or poly-alkylene glycol is allowed to reaction with at least one (meth)acrylating agent to obtain a fluorine-containing mono- or poly-alkylene glycol di(meth)acrylate. Specific examples of the (meth)acrylating agents which may be used during this reaction include: EXAMPLES The present invention will now be further illustrated by, but is by no means limited to, the following Examples. Example 1-1 A 100 ml stainless steel autoclave was charged with 20 g of ethylene glycol, 0.5 g of di-tert-butyl peroxide and 10 ml of benzotrifluoride as a solvent, tightly sealed, and then 10 g of hexafluoropropylene was charged into the reactor under pressure and the reaction was carried out under a pressure of 4.9 MPa (50 kg/cm²) of nitrogen, while stirring at 140°C for 5 hours. After completion of the reaction, the mixture was cooled and gas purged therefrom, and the reaction mixture then withdrawn from the reactor. The reaction mixture was concentrated under a reduced pressure and the solvent evaporated. Extraction with diethyl ether and water washing was repeatedly conducted, and the ether layer was separated, followed by concentration, to isolate a crude product with a purity of 94% (according to gas chromatography). The product obtained was then distilled under a reduced pressure to obtain 8.5 g of 1,2-dihydroxy-3,3,4,5,5,5-hexafluoropentane with a purity of 98% (according to gas chromatography) (yield based on hexafluoropropylene: 60.1 mol %). The compound obtained had the following physical properties and analytical results. Boiling point: 58 - 60°C 400 - 530 Pa (3 - 4 mmHg) Elemental analytical values: C (%) H (%) F (%) Calculated 28.30 2.83 53.77 Found 27.8 2.5 52.9 Gas chromatographic mass analysis: According to the FI method the molecular ion peak mass was 213. IR Absorptions observed at νOH 3350 cm⁻¹, νCF 1200 cm⁻¹. ¹H-NMR: (solvent for measurement: CD₃OD) δ = 3.80 (ethylene glycol portion -CH₂-) δ= 4.80 (ethylene glycol portion -CH-) δ = 5.24 Doublet-multiplet (-CF H -²J HF = 42 Hz, ³J HF 7 Hz) From the analytical results shown above, the product was confirmed to have the structure Example 1-2 The same procedures as in Example 1-1 were conducted, except that the alkylene glycol used in Example 1-1 was changed. The results are shown in Table 1-1. Example 1-3 A 300 ml eggplant type flask was charged with 40 g of polyethylene glycol (average molecular weight: 3,000), 7 ml (31.1 mol) of 8-H perfluorooctene-1, 1.0 g (4.1 mmol) of benzoyl peroxide, and 40 ml of chlorobenzene as a solvent, and the mixture was stirred at 100°C for 5 hours under a nitrogen atmosphere. The solvent was removed from the reaction product by a rotary evaporator, the remaining product was dried at 100°C with a vacuum pump, 300 ml of tetrahydrofuran was added thereto, and reprecipitation was effected with 3 liters of hexane with ice cooling under a nitrogen atmosphere. The precipitates obtained were filtered under a nitrogen atmosphere, followed by drying for several hours with a vacuum pump, to obtain 51.62 g of the desired polyethylene glycol derivative having fluoroalkyl group (yield: 98.5%). IR 3425 cm⁻¹ νOH, 2900 cm⁻¹ ν-CH₂, 1470 cm⁻¹ νCH₂, 1210 cm⁻¹ νCF, 1120 cm⁻¹ νC-O-C ¹H-NMR (solvent for measurement: CDCl₃) δ = 3.68 (ethylene glycol portion C H ₂) δ = 5.32 (-CF H -) δ = 6.05 Triplet (CF₂H-²J = 50 Hz) ¹³C-NMR (solvent for measurement: CDCl₃) δ = 61.4 (HO C H₂CH₂O-) δ = 70.4 (-O C H₂ C H₂O-) δ = 72.3 (HOCH₂ C H₂O-) δ = 100 - 125 (- C F n -) n = 1 or 2 ¹⁹F-NMR (solvent for measurement) δ = -210 - -213 (C F ₂H) δ = -136 (doublet) J FH = 50 Hz (-C F H-) δ = -128 (CF₂H C F ₂-) δ = -114 - -122 (-C F ₂CFH(C F ₂)₄CF₂CF₂H) GPC peak: 6.32 x 10³ 272 x 10⁴ Mw/Mn = 2.25 Ion chromatography F content: 15.4% by weight Glass transition temperature Tm (°C): 48.1 Crystallinity (%): 53.3 From the IR and NMR analytical results, it was determined that the structure is represented by the formula: and from the average molecular weight and the F content, it was determined that the number of grafted fluoroalkyl groups is 1.6 and are arranged at random. Since the values of Tm and crystallinity are lower than those of Comparative Example 1-1, it is understood that the obtained derivative is grafted. Example 1-4 The same procedures as in Example 1-3 were conducted, except that 20 ml (88.9 mmol) of 8-H perfluorooctene-1 was used in Example 1-3 to obtain 69.3 g of a polyethylene glycol derivative having a fluoroalkyl group. The results are shown in Table 1-2. Comparative Example 1-1 The same procedures as in Example 1-3 were conducted except that the 8-H perfluorooctene-1 used in Example 1-3 was omitted. The results are shown in Table 1-2. Example 1-4 Comparative Example 1-1 Average molecular weight (GPC, in terms of polystyrene) 5900 5700 -CF₂CHF(CF₂)₆H - F content (% by weight) (ion chromatographic analysis) 30.9 0 Number of grafted groups 3.3 0 Tm °C 42.7 53.1 Crystallinity 32.5 73.5 Example 1-5 Into a 200 ml stainless steel autoclave 48 g of n-octane diol, 5.0 g of di-tert. butyl peroxide, and 70 ml of benzotrifluoride as a solvent were charged and, after sealing, 122 g hexafluoropropylene was charged under pressure, followed by allowing to react the mixture, while stirring, at 130°C for 7 hours. After completing the reaction, the reaction mixture was cooled and then the gas in the autoclave was purged, followed by withdrawing the reaction mixture therefrom. The reaction mixture was concentrated under a reduced pressure and the solvent was distilled off. The residue was extracted with diethyl ether, followed by repeatedly washing with water. The ether layer was separated. Thereafter, the residue was concentrated to isolate 48 g of the crude product. The crude product was further distilled under a reduced pressure to obtain 38 g of 1 or 2 or 3 or 4-hexafluoropropyl-1,8 octane diol isomers. The physical properties and analytical data of the product are shown in Table 1-3. Example 1-6 The same procedures as in Example 1-5 were conducted except that 150 g of n-pentane diol, 16 g of di-tert. butyl peroxide, 110 ml of a benzotrifluoride solvent, and 120 g of hexafluoropropylene were used. Thus, 152 g of 1 or 2 or 3-hexafluoro-1,5-pentanediol isomers were obtained. The results are shown in Table 1-3. Example 1-7 The same procedures as in Example 1-5 were conducted except that 14 g of n-butane diol, 0.8 g of di-tert. butyl peroxide, 10 ml of a benzotrifluoride solvent, and 16 g of hexafluoropropylene were used. Thus, 9.0 g of 1 or 2-hexafluoropropyl-1,4-butane diol was obtained. The physical properties and analytical data of the product are shown in Table 1-3. Example 2-1 In a 100 ml flask were mixed, while stirring 6.0 g of 1,2-dihydroxy-3,3,4,5,5,5-hexafluoropentan (from Example 1-1), 10.3 g of methacrylic acid chloride, and 60 ml of tetrahydrofuran as a solvent, and 11.5 g of triethylamine was slowly added to the mixture dropwise under ice cooling over 1 hour. Subsequently, the mixture was allowed to react at 50°C for 2 hours while stirring, methanol was added dropwise to the reaction mixture to decompose excessive methacrylic acid chloride, the reaction mixture was then filtered, and the filtrate was concentrated under a reduced pressure to obtain a crude product. Ethyl ether was added to the product obtained and the mixture was again filtered, and ether was evaporated from the filtrate under a reduced pressure, to obtain 9.3 g of the desired ethylene glycol dimethacrylate having fluoroalkyl group: (GC purity: 98%). Elemental analytical values C (%) H (%) F (%) Calculated 44.83 4.02 32.76 Found 45.1 4.3 31.9 Gas chromatographic analysis According to the FI method the molecular ion peak + 1 mass was 349. IR analysis chart is shown in Fig. 1. νCO₂ 1720 cm⁻¹, νCH₂ = C- 1630 cm⁻¹, νC-F 1200 cm⁻¹ ¹H-NMR analytical value (solvent for measurement: CDCl₃) Example 2-2 The same procedures as in Example 2-1 were conducted except that 7.1 g of a mixture of isomers of triethylene glycol to which one -CF₂CFHCF₃ group is grafted (see Example 1-2), 6.6 g of methacrylic acid chloride and 7.4 g of triethylamine were used, to obtain 7.3 g of the desired triethylene glycol dimethacrylate having a fluoroalkyl group: Elemental analytical value C (%) H (%) F (%) Calculated 46.79 5.05 26.15 Found 45.3 4.8 27.5 Gas chromatographic analysis According to the FI method the molecular ion peak + 1 mass was 437. IR analytical value νCO₂ 2950 cm⁻¹, νCO₂ 1720 cm⁻¹, νC=C 1640 cm⁻¹, νCF 1160 - 1220 cm⁻¹, νC-O-C 1100 cm⁻¹ ¹H-NMR analytical value (solvent for measurement: CDCl₃) Example 2-3 A 1 liter four-necked flask was charged with 40 g of fluoroalkylated polyethylene glycol having -CF₂CHF(CF₂)₆H group (Mn: 6.2 x 10³ F content: 15.4% by weight - see Example 1-3), 200 ml of trimethylamine, 200 ml of pyridine, and 200 ml of chloroform as a solvent, and 10 ml of methacrylic acid chloride was slowly added dropwise to the mixture under a nitrogen atmosphere. After completion of the dropwise addition, the temperature was elevated to 70°C and the reaction was carried out for 1 hour. To the ice-cooled reaction mixture was added 100 ml of methanol, the mixture obtained was stirred at 40°C for 1 hour to effect methylesterification of excessive methacrylic acid chloride, and thereafter, reprecipitation was carried out with 5 liters of ice-cooled hexane under a nitrogen atmosphere and the precipitates were filtered at a low temperature, 300 liters of THF were added thereto, and the mixture was filtered to remove insolubles. To the filtrate was added 1 g of p-methoxyphenol as a polymerization inhibitor, and the mixture was reprecipitated with 5 liters of hexane under ice cooling. The precipitates were filtered at a low temperature and then washed thoroughly with hexane, followed by drying for 3 hours with a vacuum pump, to obtain 32 g of the desired dimethacrylate derivative. Ion chromatographic analysis: F content: 12.8% by weight G.P.C. analysis: Mn = 7.8 x 10³ Tm (°C): 50 (DSC analysis) IR analytical values: ν-CH₂ 2900 cm⁻¹, νC=C 1735 cm⁻¹, νC=C 1640 cm⁻¹, νC-F 1210 cm⁻¹, νC-O-C 1120 cm ¹H-NMR analytical values (solvent for measurement: CDCl₃) ¹³C-NMR analytical values (solvent for measurement CDCl₃) ¹⁹F-NMR analytical values (solvent for measurement: CDCl₃) From the IR and NMR analytical results, it was determined that the structure is represented by the formula: Based on the calculation of the average molecular weight and the F content, it was determined that the number of grafted fluoroalkyl groups is 2.0 and are arranged at random Since the Tm value is lower than that of Comparative Example 2-1, it is understood that the obtained derivative is grafted. Example 2-4 The same procedures as in Example 2-3 were conducted except that fluoroalkylated polyethylene glycol having a -CF₂CHF(CF₂)₆H group (Mn: 5.9 x 10³, F content: 30.9% by weight - see Example 1-4) was used to obtain 34 g of the desired dimethacrylate derivative. According to the IR and NMR analytical results, the same absorption property as that of Example 2-3 was observed. The other results are shown in Table 2-1. Example 2-5 A 1 liter four necked flask was charged with 110 g of fluoroalkylated polyethylene glycol having -CF₂CHFCF₃ group (Mn: 7.7 x 10³, F content: 39.2% by weight), 30 g of methacrylic acid chloride, and 500 ml of tetrahydrofuran as a solvent, and 60 ml of triethylamine was slowly added dropwise to the mixture under a nitrogen atmosphere. The same procedures as in Example 2-3 were conducted thereafter to obtain 83 g of the desired dimethacrylate derivative. The analytical values are shown in Table 2-1. Example 2-6 The same procedures as in Example 2-3 were conducted except that a fluoroalkylated polyethylene glycol having a -CF₂CHFCF₃ group (Mn: 18.0 x 10³, F content: 18.8% by weight) was used to obtain 36 g of the desired dimethacrylate derivative. The analytical values are shown in Table 2-1. Comparative Example 2-1 The same procedures as in Example 2-3 were conducted except that polyethylene glycol (Mn: 6.5 x 10³) was used to obtain 34 g of the desired dimethylacrylate derivative. The analytical values are shown in Table 2-1. Example 2-7 A 100 ml four-necked flask was charged with 20.3 g of polypropylene glycol grafted with -CF₂CHFCF₃ group (Mn: 4.5 x 10³, F content: 8.5% by weight), 7.0 g of methacrylic acid chloride, and 50 ml of tetrahydrofuran as a solvent, followed by stirring under ice cooling, and 14 g of triethylamine was slowly added dropwise to the mixture. The temperature was then elevated to 60°C, and the reaction was carried out for 1 hour. To the reaction mixture, which had been again ice cooled, 7.0 ml of methanol was slowly added dropwise, and the mixture was allowed to react at 40°C for 1 hour. The reaction mixture was filtered and the filtrate was concentrated, followed by vacuum drying, to obtain 18.3 g of the desired liquid dimethacrylate derivative. The average molecular weight calculated on polystyrene according to GPC analysis was Mn: 4.4 x 10³, and the F content according to ion chromatographic analysis was 7.9% by weight. The IR analysis showed that the derivative had the absorption properties of νCH₂ 2900 cm⁻¹, νCH₃ 2850 cm⁻¹, νC=O 1720 cm⁻¹, νC=C 16420 cm⁻¹, νC-F 1180 - 1210 cm⁻¹, νC-O-C 1100 cm⁻¹. According to ¹H NMR analysis (solvent for measurement: CDCl₃), the following signals were observed. From these results, it was formed that the product has the structure represented by: in which the l , m , n , o and p groups are arranged at random. Example 2-8 In a 500 ml flask were mixed, while stirring, 34 g of an isomer mixture of 1 or 2 or 3 or 4-hexafluoropropyl-1,8-octane diol (see Example 1-5), 36 g of methacrylic acid chloride, and 200 ml of a tetrahydrofuran solvent, and 55 g of htriethylamine was slowly added to the mixture dropwise under ice cooling over 2 hours. Subsequently, the mixture was allowed to react at room temperature for 2 hours while stirring. The methanol was added dropwise to the reaction mixture to decompose excessive methacrylic acid chloride, the reaction mixture was then filtered, and the filtrate was concentrated under a reduced pressure to obtain a crude product. Ethyl ether was added to the crude product obtained and the mixture was again filtered, and ether was distilled off from the filtrate under a reduced pressure, to obtain 37 g of the desired octane dimethacrylate having a hexafluoropropyl group. The analytical results are shown in Table 2-2. Example 2-9 The same procedures as in Example 2-8 were conducted except that 28.6 g of an isomer mixture of 1 or 2 or 3-hexafluoropropyl-1,5-pentane diol (see Example 1-6), 37.5 g of methacrylic acid chloride, 200 ml of tetrahydrofuran as a solvent, and 57.7 g of triethylamine were used. Thus, 27.6 g of the desired pentane dimethacrylate having a hexafluoropropyl group was obtained. The results are shown in Table 2-2. Example 2-10 The same procedures as in Example 2-8 were conducted except that 7.0 g of an isomer mixture of 1 or 2-hexafluoropropyl-1,4-butane diol (see Example 1-7), 6.5 g methacrylic acid chloride, 100 ml of tetrahydrofuran as a solvent, and 9.7 g of triethylamine were used. Thus, 8.6 g of the desired butane dimethacrylate having a hexafluoropropyl group was obtained. The results are shown in Table 2-2.

Claims: A fluorine-containing mono or poly-alkylene glycol di(meth)acrylate obtainable by graft bonding an unsaturated fluorohydrocarbon having 2 to 30 carbon atoms and at least 3 fluorine atoms to a mono- or poly-alkylene glycol of the formula [I] wherein R₁, R₂ and R₃ independently represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 30 carbon atoms, x represents an integer of 0 to 100 and n represents an integer of 1 to 1000 to produce a fluorine-containing mono- or polyalkylene glycol comprising at least one fluorohydrocarbon group of 2 to 30 carbon atoms and at least 3 fluorine atoms in place of at least one R₁, R₂ or R₃ substituent, and reacting the fluorine-containing mono- or poly-alkylene glycol with a (meth)acrylylating agent to produce a fluorine-containing mono- or polyalkylene di(meth)acrylate. Use of a fluorine-containing mono- or poly-alkylene glycol di(meth)acrylate as claimed in claim 1 in the preparation of a polymer for contact lenses.

Inventors: AGOU, TOKINORI, KUWAHARA, MASAHIRO, SAKASHITA, TAKESHI, SHIMODA, TOMOAKI, SUDOU, MASARU, TANAKA, MASAHIDE
Applicants: MITSUI PETROCHEMICAL INDUSTRIES, LTD.
Application year: 1988
Main classification: C07C43
IPC codes: C08F283, C07C43, C07C31