A fluorine-containing ether compound according to the present invention is expressed by the following formula (1) or the following formula (2):

Q.sup.1{—(R.sup.f12).sub.m2—O—(R.sup.f11O).sub.m1-A.sup.1}.sub.n1  Formula (1)

{A.sup.1-(OR.sup.f11).sub.m1—O—(R.sup.f12).sub.m2-}.sub.n2Q.sup.2-[(R.sup.f12).sub.m2—O—(R.sup.f11O).sub.m1—(R.sup.f12).sub.m2-Q.sup.3].sub.p—(R.sup.f12).sub.m2—O—(R.sup.f11O).sub.m1—(R.sup.f12).sub.m2-Q.sup.2-{(R.sup.f12).sub.m2—O—(R.sup.f11O).sub.m1-A.sup.1}.sub.n2  Formula (2),

wherein Q.sup.1, Q.sup.2, Q.sup.3, R.sup.f11, R.sup.f12, A.sup.1, n1, n2, m1, m2, and p are as described in the specification.

Provided is a compound which allows realization of a lubricant having high adsorbability and a high covering property with respect to a magnetic disk, particularly a carbon protective film. A perfluoropolyether compound in accordance with an aspect of the present invention has a naphthyl group or a phenoxyphenyl group at any one of terminals thereof.

Provided is a compound which allows realization of a lubricant having high adsorbability and a high covering property with respect to a magnetic disk, particularly a carbon protective film. A perfluoropolyether compound in accordance with an aspect of the present invention has a naphthyl group or a phenoxyphenyl group at any one of terminals thereof.

Disclosed is a method for producing a mono-cross-coupled aromatic compound (3-1) having one less leaving group than an aromatic compound (1) having at least two leaving groups, the method comprising: preparing the aromatic compound (1) having at least two leaving groups; preparing a compound (2) capable of undergoing a cross-coupling reaction selected from an aromatic boronic acid (2-1), an aromatic amino compound (2-2), a diboronic acid ester (2-3), an aromatic compound (2-4) having a hydroxyl group and an aromatic compound (2-5) having a thiol group; and performing a cross-coupling reaction of the aromatic compound (1) having at least two leaving groups with the compound (2) in the presence of a palladium catalyst and a base, in the absence of a solvent.

Disclosed is a method for producing a mono-cross-coupled aromatic compound (3-1) having one less leaving group than an aromatic compound (1) having at least two leaving groups, the method comprising: preparing the aromatic compound (1) having at least two leaving groups; preparing a compound (2) capable of undergoing a cross-coupling reaction selected from an aromatic boronic acid (2-1), an aromatic amino compound (2-2), a diboronic acid ester (2-3), an aromatic compound (2-4) having a hydroxyl group and an aromatic compound (2-5) having a thiol group; and performing a cross-coupling reaction of the aromatic compound (1) having at least two leaving groups with the compound (2) in the presence of a palladium catalyst and a base, in the absence of a solvent.

An object of the present invention is to provide, for example, a novel method for synthesizing a fluorovinyl ether compound from a fluorine-containing vinyl compound. This problem is solved by a method for producing a compound represented by formula (1):

##STR00001##

wherein
R.sup.a1 is a hydrogen atom, a halogeno group, an alkyl group, a fluoroalkyl group, or an aromatic group optionally having one or more substituents,
Rf is a fluoro group or a perfluoroalkyl group,
R.sup.a2 is a hydrogen atom, a halogeno group, an alkyl group, a fluoroalkyl group, or an aromatic group optionally having one or more substituents, or
(i) R.sup.a1 and R.sup.a2, (ii) R.sup.a1 and Rf, or (iii) Rf and R.sup.a2 may be linked to each other,
R.sup.b1 is R.sup.s,
R.sup.b2 is a hydrogen atom or R.sup.s,
R.sup.b3 is a hydrogen atom or R.sup.s, or
two or three of R.sup.b1, R.sup.b2, and R.sup.b3, taken together with the adjacent carbon atom, may form a ring optionally having one or more substituents, and
R.sup.s, in each occurrence, is the same or different and represents a hydrocarbon group optionally having one or more substituents, the method comprising
step A of reacting a compound represented by formula (2):

##STR00002##

wherein
R.sup.x is a leaving group, and
other symbols are as defined above,
with a compound represented by formula (3):

##STR00003##

wherein the symbols in the formula are as defined above,
in the presence of a transition metal catalyst.

An object of the present invention is to provide, for example, a novel method for synthesizing a fluorovinyl ether compound from a fluorine-containing vinyl compound. This problem is solved by a method for producing a compound represented by formula (1):

##STR00001##

wherein
R.sup.a1 is a hydrogen atom, a halogeno group, an alkyl group, a fluoroalkyl group, or an aromatic group optionally having one or more substituents,
Rf is a fluoro group or a perfluoroalkyl group,
R.sup.a2 is a hydrogen atom, a halogeno group, an alkyl group, a fluoroalkyl group, or an aromatic group optionally having one or more substituents, or
(i) R.sup.a1 and R.sup.a2, (ii) R.sup.a1 and Rf, or (iii) Rf and R.sup.a2 may be linked to each other,
R.sup.b1 is R.sup.s,
R.sup.b2 is a hydrogen atom or R.sup.s,
R.sup.b3 is a hydrogen atom or R.sup.s, or
two or three of R.sup.b1, R.sup.b2, and R.sup.b3, taken together with the adjacent carbon atom, may form a ring optionally having one or more substituents, and
R.sup.s, in each occurrence, is the same or different and represents a hydrocarbon group optionally having one or more substituents, the method comprising
step A of reacting a compound represented by formula (2):

##STR00002##

wherein
R.sup.x is a leaving group, and
other symbols are as defined above,
with a compound represented by formula (3):

##STR00003##

wherein the symbols in the formula are as defined above,
in the presence of a transition metal catalyst.

The invention relates to bimesogenic compounds of formula I

##STR00001##

wherein R.sup.11, R.sup.12, MG.sup.11, MG.sup.12 and CG.sup.1 have the meaning given in claim 1, to the use of bimesogenic compounds of formula I in liquid crystal media and particular to flexoelectric liquid crystal devices comprising a liquid crystal medium according to the present invention.

The invention relates to bimesogenic compounds of formula I

##STR00001##

wherein R.sup.11, R.sup.12, MG.sup.11, MG.sup.12 and CG.sup.1 have the meaning given in claim 1, to the use of bimesogenic compounds of formula I in liquid crystal media and particular to flexoelectric liquid crystal devices comprising a liquid crystal medium according to the present invention.

A salt having formula (1) or (2) serving as an acid diffusion inhibitor is provided as well as a resist composition comprising the acid diffusion inhibitor. When processed by lithography, the resist composition exhibits a high sensitivity, and excellent lithography properties such as CDU and LWR.

##STR00001##