A fluorine-containing ether compound represented by a formula (1) shown below.

R.sup.1—(O(CH.sub.2).sub.a).sub.b-[A]-[B]—O—CH.sub.2—R.sup.2—CH.sub.2—R.sup.3  (1)

(In the formula (1), R.sup.1 is an alkyl group which may have a substituent, or an organic group having at least one double bond or triple bond. Further, a represents an integer of 2 to 4, and b is 0 or 1. [A] is represented by a formula (2): —(OCH.sub.2CH(OH)CH.sub.2).sub.c— (wherein c is 1 or 2). [B] is represented by a formula (3): —(O(CH.sub.2).sub.eCH(OH)CH.sub.2).sub.d— (wherein d is 0 or 1, and e represents an integer of 2 to 4). However, the sum of c in the formula (2) and d in the formula (3) is 2. R.sup.2 is a perfluoropolyether chain. R.sup.3 is represented by a formula (4): —(OCH.sub.2CH(OH)CH.sub.2).sub.2—O—CH.sub.2(CH.sub.2).sub.fOH (wherein f represents an integer of 2 to 5).

A fluorine-containing ether compound represented by a formula (1) shown below.

R.sup.1—(O(CH.sub.2).sub.a).sub.b-[A]-[B]—O—CH.sub.2—R.sup.2—CH.sub.2—R.sup.3  (1)

(In the formula (1), R.sup.1 is an alkyl group which may have a substituent, or an organic group having at least one double bond or triple bond. Further, a represents an integer of 2 to 4, and b is 0 or 1. [A] is represented by a formula (2): —(OCH.sub.2CH(OH)CH.sub.2).sub.c— (wherein c is 1 or 2). [B] is represented by a formula (3): —(O(CH.sub.2).sub.eCH(OH)CH.sub.2).sub.d— (wherein d is 0 or 1, and e represents an integer of 2 to 4). However, the sum of c in the formula (2) and d in the formula (3) is 2. R.sup.2 is a perfluoropolyether chain. R.sup.3 is represented by a formula (4): —(OCH.sub.2CH(OH)CH.sub.2).sub.2—O—CH.sub.2(CH.sub.2).sub.fOH (wherein f represents an integer of 2 to 5).

The present invention relates to a magnetic recording medium in which a lubricant layer contains a compound A represented by general formula (1) and a compound B represented by general formula (2), satisfying (A/B)=0.2 to 3.0, and has an average thickness of 0.8 nm to 2 nm. R.sup.1—C.sub.6H.sub.4OCH.sub.2CH(OH)CH.sub.2OCH.sub.2—R.sup.2—CH.sub.2OCH.sub.2CH(OH)CH.sub.2OH . . . (1) (R.sup.1 is an alkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms. R.sup.2 is —CF.sub.2O(CF.sub.2CF.sub.2O).sub.x(CF.sub.2O).sub.yCF.sub.2— (x, y=0 to 15), —CF.sub.2CF.sub.2O(CF.sub.2CF.sub.2CF.sub.2O).sub.zCF.sub.2CF.sub.2— (z=1 to 15), —CF.sub.2CF.sub.2CF.sub.2O(CF.sub.2CF.sub.2CF.sub.2CF.sub.2).sub.nCF.sub.2CF.sub.2CF.sub.2— (n=0 to 4). HOCH.sub.2CF.sub.2CF.sub.2O(CF.sub.2CF.sub.2CF.sub.2O).sub.mCF.sub.2CF.sub.2CH.sub.2OCH.sub.2CH(OH)CH.sub.2OH . . . (2) (m is an integer).

The present invention relates to a magnetic recording medium in which a lubricant layer contains a compound A represented by general formula (1) and a compound B represented by general formula (2), satisfying (A/B)=0.2 to 3.0, and has an average thickness of 0.8 nm to 2 nm. R.sup.1—C.sub.6H.sub.4OCH.sub.2CH(OH)CH.sub.2OCH.sub.2—R.sup.2—CH.sub.2OCH.sub.2CH(OH)CH.sub.2OH . . . (1) (R.sup.1 is an alkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms. R.sup.2 is —CF.sub.2O(CF.sub.2CF.sub.2O).sub.x(CF.sub.2O).sub.yCF.sub.2— (x, y=0 to 15), —CF.sub.2CF.sub.2O(CF.sub.2CF.sub.2CF.sub.2O).sub.zCF.sub.2CF.sub.2— (z=1 to 15), —CF.sub.2CF.sub.2CF.sub.2O(CF.sub.2CF.sub.2CF.sub.2CF.sub.2).sub.nCF.sub.2CF.sub.2CF.sub.2— (n=0 to 4). HOCH.sub.2CF.sub.2CF.sub.2O(CF.sub.2CF.sub.2CF.sub.2O).sub.mCF.sub.2CF.sub.2CH.sub.2OCH.sub.2CH(OH)CH.sub.2OH . . . (2) (m is an integer).

A fluorine-containing ether compound represented by R.sup.1—R.sup.2—CH.sub.2—R.sup.3—CH.sub.2—R.sup.4—R.sup.5 is provided. (R.sup.3 is a perfluoropolyether chain; R.sup.1 and R.sup.5 are each independently any one of an alkyl group that may have a substituent, an organic group having at least one double bond or at least one triple bond, and a hydrogen atom; and —R.sup.2—CH.sub.2—R.sup.3 is represented by Formula (2), and R.sup.3—CH.sub.2—R.sup.4— is represented by Formula (3))
-[A]-[B]—O—CH.sub.2—R.sup.3  (2)
R.sup.3—CH.sub.2—O—[C]-[D]-  (3)
([A] is represented by Formula (4), [B] is represented by Formula (5), [C] is represented by Formula (6), [D] is represented by Formula (7), and in the formula, a and b are integers of 0 to 2, c is an integer of 2 to 5, d and f are integers of 0 to 2, and e is an integer of 2 to 5, and at least one of b and d in the formula is 1 or more) ##STR00001##

A fluorine-containing ether compound represented by R.sup.1—R.sup.2—CH.sub.2—R.sup.3—CH.sub.2—R.sup.4—R.sup.5 is provided. (R.sup.3 is a perfluoropolyether chain; R.sup.1 and R.sup.5 are each independently any one of an alkyl group that may have a substituent, an organic group having at least one double bond or at least one triple bond, and a hydrogen atom; and —R.sup.2—CH.sub.2—R.sup.3 is represented by Formula (2), and R.sup.3—CH.sub.2—R.sup.4— is represented by Formula (3))
-[A]-[B]—O—CH.sub.2—R.sup.3  (2)
R.sup.3—CH.sub.2—O—[C]-[D]-  (3)
([A] is represented by Formula (4), [B] is represented by Formula (5), [C] is represented by Formula (6), [D] is represented by Formula (7), and in the formula, a and b are integers of 0 to 2, c is an integer of 2 to 5, d and f are integers of 0 to 2, and e is an integer of 2 to 5, and at least one of b and d in the formula is 1 or more) ##STR00001##

A compound of formula (I): wherein W is independently selected from the group consisting of H, F, CI, Br, and I; X is independently selected from the group consisting of H, F, CI, Br, and I; Y is independently selected from the group consisting of F, CI, Br, and I; Z is independently selected from the group consisting of H, F, CI, Br, and I; n is an integer from 1 to 8; and n′ is an integer from 1 to 12.

##STR00001##

Provided herein is a lubricant including a compound of Formula I
L-(CF.sub.2CF.sub.2O).sub.n—CF.sub.2CH.sub.2O—N—OCH.sub.2CF.sub.2O—(CF.sub.2CF.sub.2O).sub.m-M  (Formula I)
wherein L is selected from the group consisting of ##STR00001## M is selected from the group consisting of ##STR00002##
wherein each instance of R.sup.1, R.sup.2, and R.sup.3 is independently selected from the group consisting of hydroxyl, alkoxyl, carbocycyl, phenyl, heterocycyl, piperonyl, carboxyl, alkylamido, acetamido, carbamoyl, N-alkylcarbamoyl, N,N-dialkylcarbamoyl, 2,3-dihydroxy-1-propoxyl, acryloyl, alkacryloyl, methacryloyl, a substituent of methyl methacrylate, and a substituent of glycidyl ether; and
wherein n≧1, m≧1, and n and m are the same or different.

Provided herein is a lubricant including a compound of Formula I
L-(CF.sub.2CF.sub.2O).sub.n—CF.sub.2CH.sub.2O—N—OCH.sub.2CF.sub.2O—(CF.sub.2CF.sub.2O).sub.m-M  (Formula I)
wherein L is selected from the group consisting of ##STR00001## M is selected from the group consisting of ##STR00002##
wherein each instance of R.sup.1, R.sup.2, and R.sup.3 is independently selected from the group consisting of hydroxyl, alkoxyl, carbocycyl, phenyl, heterocycyl, piperonyl, carboxyl, alkylamido, acetamido, carbamoyl, N-alkylcarbamoyl, N,N-dialkylcarbamoyl, 2,3-dihydroxy-1-propoxyl, acryloyl, alkacryloyl, methacryloyl, a substituent of methyl methacrylate, and a substituent of glycidyl ether; and
wherein n≧1, m≧1, and n and m are the same or different.

A method for preparing a partially fluorinated ester comprising acyl and alkoxy groups wherein the acyl group comprises a branched or linear fluorine containing C.sub.3-C.sub.8 group with one of the structures: (Formulae (I), (II)) wherein X and Y are independently selected from: —H, —CH.sub.3, —F, —Cl, —CH.sub.2F, —CF.sub.3—OCF.sub.3, —OCH.sub.2CF.sub.3, OCH.sub.2CF.sub.2CHF.sub.2 and —CH.sub.2CF.sub.3 (wherein both X and Y cannot be H) comprising reacting an unsaturated halocarbon: (Formula (III)) wherein A and B are independently selected from the group comprising —H, —CH.sub.3, —F, —Cl, —CH.sub.2F, —CF.sub.3, —OCF.sub.3, —OCH.sub.2CF.sub.3, OCH.sub.2CF.sub.2CHF.sub.2 and —CH.sub.2CF.sub.3 (wherein both A and B cannot be H) with carbon monoxide and an alcohol, in the presence of a catalyst methods.

##STR00001##