This invention relates to the use of base-labile protecting groups for stepwise synthesis of polymers including oligomers. One or more monomers that have a base-labile protecting group at one end and a leaving group at the other are used in synthetic cycles comprising deprotection under stronger basic conditions to remove the base-labile protecting group, and coupling with a monomer under weaker basic conditions to elongate the polymer without premature deprotection of the base-labile protecting group. Advantages of the invention include the possibility to shorten the synthetic cycle from three steps in prior art methods to two steps, more efficient deprotection, more efficient coupling, and the use of less harmful and less expensive chemicals. One of the goals for stepwise polymer synthesis is to prepare monodisperse and sequence-defined polymers.

The present invention relates to a composition comprising a mixture of a first and a second hydrophobically modified alkylene oxide polymer, wherein the first hydrophobically modified alkylene oxide polymer is endcapped with at least one first hydrophobic group functionalized with a secondary amine or a salt thereof, or a tertiary amine or a salt thereof;

and wherein the second hydrophobically modified alkylene oxide polymer is endcapped with at least one second hydrophobic group, structure I:

##STR00001##

where R.sup.1, R.sup.2, m, and n are as defined herein. The present invention also relates to a method for preparing the composition. The composition of the present invention provides an associative thickener with an excellent balance of as-is viscosity and temperature stability over a wide temperature range.

The present invention provides a fluorine-containing ether compound represented by the following formula:

R.sup.1—R.sup.2—CH.sub.2—R.sup.3—CH.sub.2—R.sup.4—R.sup.5

(in the formula, R.sup.3 represents a perfluoropolyether chain; R.sup.1 and R.sup.5 each independently represent any of an alkyl group which may have a substituent, an organic group having a double bond or a triple bond, and a hydrogen atom; —R.sup.2—CH.sub.2—R.sup.3 is represented by -[A]-[B]—O—CH.sub.2—R.sup.3; R.sup.3—CH.sub.2—R.sup.4— is represented by R.sup.3—CH.sub.2—O—[C]-[D]-; [A] is represented by Formula (4), [B] is represented by Formula (5), [C] is represented by Formula (6), and [D] is represented by Formula (7)):

##STR00001##

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).

Provided is a compound which has heat resistance and decomposition resistance and with which a monomolecular film having a reduced thickness can be obtained. A fluoropolyether compound in accordance with an aspect of the present invention is represented by R.sup.1—C.sub.6H.sub.4O—CH.sub.2CH(OH)CH.sub.2OCH.sub.2—R.sup.2—CH.sub.2—O—CH.sub.2CH(OH)CH.sub.2—OC.sub.6H.sub.4—R.sup.1 where R.sup.1 is a hydrogen atom, an alkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, an amino group, or an amide group, R.sup.2 is —CF.sub.2O(CF.sub.2CF.sub.2O).sub.xCF.sub.2—, and x is a real number of 1 to 35.

A polyethylene glycol-functionalized triglyceride polyol polymer comprising a glycerol component and three fatty acid components bonded to the glycerol component, wherein at least one of the fatty acid components comprises: a fatty acid chain; a hydroxyl functional group bound to a carbon atom of the fatty acid chain; and a polyethylene glycol-based functional group bound to an adjacent carbon atom of the fatty acid chain; according to Structure I

##STR00001##

wherein: n is from 10 to 40; and R is selected from the group consisting of H, alkyl, and silyl.

Alkoxylated polycarboxylic acid amides are provided obtainable by first reacting an aromatic polycarboxylic acid containing at least three carboxylic acid units or anhydrides derived therefrom, preferably an aromatic polycarboxylic acid containing three or four carboxylic acid units or anhydrides derived therefrom, more preferably an aromatic polycarboxylic acid containing three carboxylic acid units or anhydrides derived therefrom, even more preferably trimellitic acid or trimellitic acid anhydride, most preferably trimellitic acid anhydride, with an amine alkoxylate and in a second step reacting the resulting product with an alcohol or amine or a mixture of alcohols and/or amines, preferably with an alcohol.

The present invention relates to a method of dispersing fine particles in an aqueous or polar solvent. The dispersant comprises a compound of general formula (I): In general formula (I), AO is an alkylene oxide group selected from ethylene oxide and propylene oxide, R.sup.1 is selected from a methyl group, an ethyl group, a propyl group, a butyl group, and a pentyl group, R.sup.2 is a carboxylic acid terminated group comprising 1 to 5 carbon atoms between the carboxylic acid and the polyalkylene glycol group (-(AO).sub.n—O—), and n is 2 to 100. A dispersion of nanoparticles comprising the dispersant, use of the dispersant, and a method for dispersing nanoparticles is also disclosed.

A composition containing a compound (A) containing a structure represented by the following general formula (I) as a first component, at least one of an antioxidant (B1) different from a phosphorus-based antioxidant and a light stabilizer (B2) as a second component, and a resin component (C) as a third component:

##STR00001##

wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 each independently represent an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, an alkenyl group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms, an aryl group, or an aralkyl group; and R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, an alkenyl group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms, an aryl group, or an aralkyl group.

A polyethylene glycol derivative compound is represented by Formula 1 described in the detailed description. In Formula 1, n is a natural number of 30 to 115, and R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are C.sub.1 to C.sub.5 alkyl that are identical to or different from each other.