A method for forming a fluorinated compound includes a step of forming a sulfonate ester of a polyethylene glycol. The sulfonate ester is then reacted with a fluorinated diol in the presence of a base such that the polyethylene glycol is attached to one of the hydroxyl groups in the fluorinated diol. The other hydroxyl group in the fluorinated diol is reacted is converted into a leaving group and reacted with an number of nucleophiles. Complexes of the fluorinated compounds that as useful in Magnetic Resonance Imaging are also provided.
