Method to improve 1,1,3-trichloropropene and/or 3,3,3-trichloropropene selectivity during the dehydrochlorination of 1,1,1,3-tetrachloropropane

1. In the process of the catalytic dehydrochlorination of 1,1,1,3-tetrachloro-propane (HCC-250fb) to produce 1,1,3-trichloropropene and/or 3,3,3-trichloropropene, the improvement comprising the addition of one or more UV-stabilizer and/or anti-oxidant compounds, or mixtures thereof, into the dehydrochlorination reaction system to inhibit the formation of high boiling compounds, and wherein the product selectivity to 1,1,3-trichloropropene and/or 3,3,3-trichloropropene is at least about 50% or higher.

2. The process of claim 1 , wherein the dehydrochlorination catalyst comprises one or more metal halides or mixtures thereof.

3. The process of claim 1 , wherein the dehydrochlorination catalyst comprises FeCl 3 .

4. The process of claim 3 , wherein the dehydrochlorination reaction temperature is from 50° to 140° C.

5. The process of claim 3 , wherein the dehydrochlorination reaction temperature is from 80° to 120° C.

6. The process of claim 3 , wherein the dehydrochlorination reaction time is from 0.5 to 10 hours.

7. The process of claim 3 , wherein the dehydrochlorination reaction time is from 1 to 4 hours.

8. The process of claim 3 , wherein the weight ratio of the catalyst to the reactant 1,1,1,3-tetrachloropropane is from above 0 to about 5% by weight.

9. The process of claim 3 , wherein the weight ratio of the catalyst to the reactant 1,1,1,3-tetrachloropropane is from 0.01% to 0.5% by weight.

10. In the process of the catalytic dehydrochlorination of 1,1,1,3-tetrachloro-propane (HCC-250fb) to produce 1,1,3-trichloropropene and/or 3,3,3-trichloropropene, the improvement comprising the addition of one or more UV-stabilizer and/or anti-oxidant compounds, or mixtures thereof, into the dehydrochlorination reaction system to inhibit the formation of high boiling compounds;

wherein the dehydrochlorination catalyst comprises FeCl 3 ; and

wherein the weight ratio of UV-stabilizer and/or anti-oxidant and/or their mixtures to the reactant 1,1,1,3-tetrachloropropane ranges from above 0 to about 2% by weight.

11. In the process of the catalytic dehydrochlorination of 1,1,1,3-tetrachloro-propane (HCC-250fb) to produce 1,1,3-trichloropropene and/or 3,3,3-trichloropropene, the improvement comprising the addition of one or more UV-stabilizer and/or anti-oxidant compounds, or mixtures thereof, into the dehydrochlorination reaction system to inhibit the formation of high boiling compounds;

wherein the dehydrochlorination catalyst comprises FeCl 3 ; and

wherein the weight ratio of UV-Stabilizer and/or anti-oxidant and/or their mixtures to the reactant 1,1,1,3-tetrachloropropane ranges from about 0.0001% to about 0.5%.

12. In the process of the catalytic dehydrochlorination of chlorinated alkanes to produce chlorinated alkenes, the improvement comprising the addition of one or more UV-stabilizer and/or anti-oxidant compounds, or mixtures thereof, into the dehydrochlorination reaction system to inhibit the formation of high boiling compounds, and

wherein the UV-Stabilizer and/or anti-oxidant and/or their mixtures is selected from the group consisting of benzophenones, polyphenols, amines, hydroquinones, butylated hydroxy anisoles (BHA), thymols, and mixtures thereof; and wherein the weight ratio of UV-Stabilizer and/or anti-oxidant and/or their mixtures to the reactant 1,1,1,3-tetrachloropropane ranges from about 0 to about 2% by weight.

13. The process of claim 12 , wherein the dehydrochlorination reaction system comprises the dehydrochlorination of 1,1,1,3-tetrachloropropane to produce 1,1,3-trichloropropene and/or 3,3,3-trichloropropene.

14. The process of claim 12 , wherein the UV-Stabilizer and/or anti-oxidant and/or their mixtures is selected from the group consisting of methoxy-hydroquinones, triethylamines, di-isopropyl amines, and mixtures thereof.

15. A process for the catalytic dehydrochlorination of chlorinated alkanes to produce chlorinated alkenes using one or more metal halides or mixtures as the catalyst, comprising adding one or more UV-stabilizer and/or anti-oxidant compounds, or mixtures thereof, into the dehydrochlorination reaction system to improve the selectivity to the product chlorinated alkenes, wherein the UV-stabilizer and/or anti-oxidant compounds are selected from the group consisting of benzophenones, polyphenols, amines, hydroquinones, butylated hydroxy anisoles (BHA), thymols, and mixtures thereof; and wherein the weight ratio of UV-Stabilizer and/or anti-oxidant and/or their mixtures to the reactant 1,1,1,3-tetrachloropropane ranges from about 0 to about 2% by weight.

16. A process for the catalytic dehydrochlorination of chlorinated alkanes to produce chlorinated alkenes using one or more metal halides or mixtures as the catalyst, comprising adding one or more UV-stabilizer and/or anti-oxidant compounds, or mixtures thereof, into the dehydrochlorination reaction system to improve the selectivity to the product chlorinated alkenes, wherein the UV-stabilizer and/or anti-oxidant compounds are selected from the group consisting of benzophenones, polyphenols, amines, hydroquinones, butylated hydroxy anisoles (BHA), thymols, and mixtures thereof; and

wherein the product selectivity is at least about 50% or higher.

17. The process of claim 16 , wherein the product selectivity is at least about 70% or higher.

18. The process of claim 16 , wherein the product selectivity is at least about 95% or higher.

19. The process of claim 15 , wherein the UV-stabilizer and/or anti-oxidant compounds are selected from the group consisting of methoxy-hydroquinones, triethylamines, di-isopropyl amines, and mixtures thereof.

20. The process of claim 16 , wherein the UV-stabilizer and/or anti-oxidant compounds are selected from the group consisting of methoxy-hydroquinones, triethylamines, di-isopropyl amines, and mixtures thereof.