Synthesis of F(CF2)8(CH2)8H and gel phase formation from its solutions in homologous alcohols

The behavior of F(CF2)8(CH2)8H in methanol, ethanol and propanol with reference to the gel phase formation of diblock semifluorinated n-alkanes was investigated. Samples with different degrees of purity employing different volumes of solvent were studied in order to ascertain the influence of the process variables on the gel phase formation. For each alcohol the volume leading to the best result was determined and the relative values were compared in order to evaluate the effectiveness of this treatment as a purification method for these semifluorinated compounds. The synthesis of F(CF2)8(CH2)8H was also studied with reference to the influence of ratio of reactants and temperature on the addition of the fluorinated reactant to the 1-olefin.