Synthesis of 1,1,3-trichloro-1-propene

1. A process for the manufacture of 1,1,3-trichloro-1-propene comprising: (a) contacting 1,1,1,3-tetrachloropropane in the vapor phase in a reaction zone with a catalyst to produce a product mixture comprising 1,1,3-trichloro-1-propene; and (b) recovering said 1,1,3-trichloro-1-propene from the product mixture produced in (a), wherein said catalyst is iron.

2. The process of claim 1 , wherein the contacting step is conducted under a flow of an inert carrier gas.

3. The process of claim 2 , wherein said inert carrier gas is nitrogen.

4. The process of claim 1 , wherein the temperature set point for said reaction zone is at least 300° C.

5. The process of claim 1 , wherein the temperature set point for said reaction zone is at least 350° C.

6. A process for the manufacture of 1,1,3-trichloro-1-propene comprising: (a) heating 1,1,1,3-tetrachloropropane in the liquid phase to a temperature of at least 175° C. for at least one hour to produce a product mixture comprising 1,1,3-trichloro-1-propene, (b) cooling said mixture, (c) separating HCl from said product mixture, and (d) recovering 1,1,3-trichloropropene.

7. The process of claim 6 , wherein the selectivity for producing 1,1,3-trichloro-1-propene is at least 90%.

8. The process of claim 6 , wherein the selectivity for producing 1,1,3-trichloro-1-propene is at least 95%.

9. The process of claim 1 wherein the catalyst is iron wool.