Process for preparing 1,3-dichloroacetone

1. A process for producing 1,3-dichloroacetone which comprises (1) chlorinating acetone to form monochloroacetone, and

(2) disproportionating the monochloroacetone in the presence of a platinum catalyst, a chloride source, water and, optionally, a strong acid to produce acetone and 1,3-dichloroacetone.

2. The process of claim 1 wherein the platinum catalyst is selected from the group consisting of PtCl 4 −2 , PtO 2 , chloroplatinic acid, ammonium chloroplatinate, and polyamine platinum salts.

3. The process of claim 1 wherein the strong acid is hydrochloric acid.

4. A process for producing epichlorohydrin which comprises (1) chlorinating acetone to form monochloroacetone; (2) disproportionating the monochloroacetone in the presence of a platinum catalyst, a chloride source, water and, optionally, a strong acid to produce acetone and 1,3-dichloroacetone; (3) hydrogenating the 1,3-dichloroacetone in the presence of a catalyst to produce 1,3-dichlorohydrin; and (4) cyclizing the 1,3-dichlorohydrin with a base to produce epichlorohydrin.

5. The process of claim 4 wherein the hydrogenating agent is molecular hydrogen, an alcohol, or a combination thereof.

6. The process of claim 4 wherein the catalyst is a heterogeneous transition metal-containing catalyst.

7. The process of claim 4 wherein the hydrogenating agent is molecular hydrogen.

8. The process of claim 4 wherein the 1,3-dichloroacetone produced in step (2) is hydrogenated without removing a chlorine atom through the formation of HCl.

9. The process of claim 4 wherein the 1,3-dichlorohydrin produced in step (3) is cyclized to produce epichlorohydrin by contacting it with a strong base.

10. The process of claim 4 wherein the strong base is an aqueous alkali metal hydroxide.