New perfluoroalkyl telomeric non‐ionic surfactants: synthesis, physicochemical and biological properties

Both the experimental conditions and the kinetic parameters governing the telomerization of hydroxy‐functional acryloyl derivatives in the presence of perfluoroalkanethiols were determined with the purpose of synthesizing new amphiphilic telomers with high surface activity for the preparation of stable perfluoro emulsions capable of carrying oxygen in vivo. Several perfluoro‐alkylated non‐ionic telomeric surfactants (FmTACn) were obtained in one step with an average yield of 80%, by free‐radical telomerization of tris(hydroxymethyl)acrylamidomethane in the presence of various perfluoroalkanethiols as chain‐transfer reagents. Surface activity, critical micelle concentration and emulsifying capability established the superiority of the FmTACn surfactants over Pluronic® F68, the major surfactant used presently in the FDA‐approved injectable fluorocarbon emulsion: Fluosol®.