Patent ID: 6858757

Claim:
A process for preparing perfluoropolyoxyalkylenes having one or two end groups selected from —OCF 2 H, —OCF 2 CF 2 H and —OCF(CF 3 )H and a number average molecular weight from 120 to 3,000, comprising the decarboxylation of the corresponding perfluoropolyoxyalkylenes having one or two end groups selected from the group consisting of —OCF 2 COOH, —OCF 2 CF 2 COOH, and —OCF(CF 3 )COOH, in the presence of catalytic amounts of salts formed by perfluoropolyoxyalkylenes having one or two end groups selected from the group consisting of —OCF 2 COOZ, —OCF 2 CF 2 COOZ and —OCF(CF 3 )COOZ, wherein Z is a monovalent cation selected from the groups Ia and Ib of the Periodic System of the Elements, having ionic radius ≧0.95 Å or Z is —NR 4 + wherein R is hydrogen or a C 1 -C 4 alkyl, wherein ratios between Z and the —COOH equivalents of the perfluoropolyoxyalkylenes to be decarboxylated ranges from 0.01 to 0.08, at a temperature between 120° C. and 180° C., in the presence of water, at pH <5 and at a pressure comprised between 2 and 80 atmospheres.