Method of making 1,1,1-trifluoroethane

1. A process for producing 1,1,1-trifluoroethane (HFC-143a) which comprises reacting vinylidene chloride and at least one of 1,1,-dichloro-1-fluoroethane (HCFC-141b), 1-chloro-1,1-difluoroethane (HCFC-142b) and 1,1,1-trichloroethane (HCC-140a) with hydrogen fluoride in the presence of pentavalent antimony as a fluorination catalyst under conditions to produce 1,1,1-trifluoroethane (HFC-143a).

2. A process according to claim 1 wherein the hydrogen fluoride is reacted with a combination of vinylidene chloride and 1,1,-dichloro-1-fluoroethane (HCFC-141b).

3. A process according to claim 1 wherein the hydrogen fluoride is reacted with a combination of vinylidene chloride and 1-chloro-1,1-difluoroethane (HCFC-142b).

4. A process according to claim 1 wherein the hydrogen fluoride is reacted with a combination of vinylidene chloride and 1,1,1-trichloroethane (HCC-140a).

5. A process according to claim 1 wherein the pentavalent antimony fluorination catalyst is selected from the group consisting of pentavalent antimony halides, mixed pentavalent antimony halides and mixtures of pentavalent antimony halides.

6. A process according to claim 5 wherein the pentavalent antimony catalyst is antimony pentachloride.

7. A process according to claim 1 wherein the weight ratio of vinylidene chloride reactant to the one or more of 1,1,-dichloro-1-fluoroethane (HCFC-141 b), 1-chloro-1,1-difluoroethane (HCFC-142b) and 1,1,1-trichloroethane (HCC-140a) reactants is from about 90:10 to about 10:90.

8. A process according to claim 1 wherein the amount of 1,1,1-trifluoroethane (HFC-143a) produced is at least 90% of the halogenated hydrocarbons produced.

9. A process according to claim 1 wherein the amount of 1,1,1-trifluoroethane (HFC-143a) produced is at least 95% of the halogenated hydrocarbons produced.

10. A process according to claim 1 wherein the reaction is conducted in the presence of chlorine liquid or gas to maintain the activity of the catalyst.

11. A process according to claim 1 wherein weight ratio of vinylidene chloride reactant to the one or more of 1,1-dichloro-1-fluoroethane (HCFC-141 b), 1-chloro-1,1-difluoroethane (HCFC-142b) and 1,1,1-trichloroethane (HCC-140a) is from about 90:10 to about 10:90, the hydrogen fluoride reactant is substantially anhydrous hydrogen fluoride, the catalyst is antimony pentachloride, the reaction is conducted in the liquid phase at a temperature of from about 40° C. to about 120° C., the reaction is conducted at a pressure of from about 15 to about 150 psig (about 1.055 to about 10.546 kg/cm 2 ), the mole ratio of hydrogen fluoride reactant to organic halide reactants is from about 1/1 to about 20/1, and the amount of 1,1,1-trifluoroethane (HFC-143a) produced is at least 90% of the halogenated hydrocarbons produced.