Patent ID: 7988877

Claim:
A method of making a fluorinated ether, the method comprising: combining in a polar aprotic solvent: a fluorinated alcohol represented by the formula X—R f 1 —CH 2 OH wherein R f 1 is selected from the group consisting of derivatives of perfluorinated alkylene groups having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms wherein one or more carbon atoms are replaced by catenated heteroatoms, and derivatives of partially fluorinated alkylene groups having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms wherein one or more carbon atoms are replaced by catenated heteroatoms, wherein if R f 1 contains at least two carbon atoms, then R f 1 contains at most two hydrogen atoms; and X represents H, F, or an HOCH 2 — group; a fluorinated sulfonate ester represented by the formula R f 2 CH 2 OS(═O) 2 R f 3 wherein R f 2 is selected from the group consisting of perfluorinated alkyl groups having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms and partially fluorinated alkyl groups having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, and derivatives thereof wherein one or more carbon atoms are replaced by catenated heteroatoms, and wherein if R f 2 contains at least two carbon atoms then R f 2 contains at most three hydrogen atoms; and R f 3 is selected from the group consisting of perfluorinated alkyl groups having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms; and base; and obtaining at least one fluorinated ether represented by the formula Y—R f 1 —CH 2 OCH 2 R f 2 wherein Y represents H, F, or an R f 2 CH 2 OCH 2 — group.