A fluorine-containing ether compound represented by the following formula (1).

C.sub.6H.sub.6-n—[O—R.sup.1—O—CH.sub.2—R.sup.2—CH.sub.2—R.sup.3].sub.n  (1)

(in the formula (1), n is an integer of 2 or 3, R.sup.1 is any one of —CH.sub.2CH.sub.2—, —CH.sub.2CH.sub.2CH.sub.2— and —CH.sub.2CH(OH)CH.sub.2—, R.sup.2 is a perfluoropolyether chain, R.sup.3 is —OCH.sub.2CH(OH)CH.sub.2O(CH.sub.2).sub.mOH (m in the formula is an integer of 2 to 4)).

A fluorine-containing ether compound represented by the following formula (1).

C.sub.6H.sub.6-n—[O—R.sup.1—O—CH.sub.2—R.sup.2—CH.sub.2—R.sup.3].sub.n  (1)

(in the formula (1), n is an integer of 2 or 3, R.sup.1 is any one of —CH.sub.2CH.sub.2—, —CH.sub.2CH.sub.2CH.sub.2— and —CH.sub.2CH(OH)CH.sub.2—, R.sup.2 is a perfluoropolyether chain, R.sup.3 is —OCH.sub.2CH(OH)CH.sub.2O(CH.sub.2).sub.mOH (m in the formula is an integer of 2 to 4)).

A lubricant for a magnetic recording medium capable of forming a lubricant layer having excellent adhesion to a protective layer is provided. A lubricant for a magnetic recording medium contains a fluorine-containing ether compound in which a group having an ethylenic carbon-carbon double bond is disposed at one or both terminals of a perfluoroalkyl polyether chain. It is preferable that the group having the ethylenic carbon-carbon double bond is disposed at one terminal of the perfluoroalkyl polyether chain, and a hydroxyl group is disposed at other terminal. It is preferable that the lubricant for a magnetic recording medium contains a compound in which one or more functional groups selected from a hydroxyl group, an amino group, an amido group and a carboxyl group is disposed at one or both terminals of a perfluoroalkyl polyether chain.

A lubricant for a magnetic recording medium capable of forming a lubricant layer having excellent adhesion to a protective layer is provided. A lubricant for a magnetic recording medium contains a fluorine-containing ether compound in which a group having an ethylenic carbon-carbon double bond is disposed at one or both terminals of a perfluoroalkyl polyether chain. It is preferable that the group having the ethylenic carbon-carbon double bond is disposed at one terminal of the perfluoroalkyl polyether chain, and a hydroxyl group is disposed at other terminal. It is preferable that the lubricant for a magnetic recording medium contains a compound in which one or more functional groups selected from a hydroxyl group, an amino group, an amido group and a carboxyl group is disposed at one or both terminals of a perfluoroalkyl polyether chain.

Provided are a magnetic disk and, in particular, a compound which makes it possible to realize a lubricant having excellent heat resistance and solubility in a fluorine-based solvent. A perfluoropolyether compound in accordance with an aspect of the present invention has, in hydrocarbon groups at both terminals thereof, five or six hydroxyl groups in total.

A fluorine-containing ether compound represented by the following formula (1).

R.sup.1—R.sup.2—CH.sub.2—R.sup.3—CH.sub.2—R.sup.4  (1)

(R.sup.1 is an organic group having an alicyclic structure having 3 to 13 carbon atoms; R.sup.2 is represented by the following formula (2), and a in the formula (2) is an integer of 1 to 3; R.sup.3 is a perfluoropolyether chain; and R.sup.4 is a terminal group having two or three polar groups, in which individual polar groups bond to different carbon atoms and the carbon atoms to which the polar groups bond are bonded to each other through a linking group having a carbon atom to which the polar groups do not bond.)

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A fluorine-containing ether compound represented by the following formula (1).

R.sup.1—R.sup.2—CH.sub.2—R.sup.3—CH.sub.2—R.sup.4  (1)

(R.sup.1 is an organic group having an alicyclic structure having 3 to 13 carbon atoms; R.sup.2 is represented by the following formula (2), and a in the formula (2) is an integer of 1 to 3; R.sup.3 is a perfluoropolyether chain; and R.sup.4 is a terminal group having two or three polar groups, in which individual polar groups bond to different carbon atoms and the carbon atoms to which the polar groups bond are bonded to each other through a linking group having a carbon atom to which the polar groups do not bond.)

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The present invention relates to a novel process for the synthesis of (per)fluoropolyether polymers, to certain novel (per)fluoropolyether polymers. The present invention also relates to the use of the (per)fluoropolyether polymers thus obtained as intermediate compounds for the manufacture of further polymers suitable for use as lubricants, notably for magnetic recording media (MRM).

The present invention relates to a novel process for the synthesis of (per)fluoropolyether polymers, to certain novel (per)fluoropolyether polymers. The present invention also relates to the use of the (per)fluoropolyether polymers thus obtained as intermediate compounds for the manufacture of further polymers suitable for use as lubricants, notably for magnetic recording media (MRM).

A deposition composition includes a solvent comprising a hydrofluorothioether compound represented by the following general formula (I): Rf—S—Rh where Rf is a fluorinated or perfluorinated group having 2-9 carbon atoms and optionally includes one or more catenated heteroatoms or chlorine atoms, and Rh is a non-fluorinated hydrocarbon group having 1-3 carbon atoms. The deposition composition further includes a coating material that is soluble or dispersible in said solvent.