Process for the production of chlorinated alkanes
View Patent ↗Processes for the production of chlorinated alkanes are provided. The present processes comprise reacting one or more mono- and/or dichloroalkanes to form tri-, tetra- and/or pentachloroalkanes, with high regioselectivity. In those embodiments wherein a dichloroalkane is desirably utilized, it may advantageously be a vicinal dichloroalkane. Further, only one catalyst is utilized. The present processes make use of sulfuryl chloride as a chlorinating agent, rather than a gaseous chlorinating agent such as chlorine gas. Finally, the process uses lower intensity process conditions than at least some conventional processes, and thus, operating costs are saved.
1. A process for the production of tri-, tetra- and/or pentachlorinated alkanes from one or more mono and/or dichlorinated alkanes comprising chlorinating the mono and/or dichlorinated alkane in the presence of aluminum chloride, wherein the chlorinating agent comprises sulfuryl chloride.
2. The process of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the one or more mono- and/or dichlorinated alkanes comprises a vicinal dichloroalkane.
3. The process of claim 1 , wherein the dichloroalkane comprises 1,2-dichloropropane.
4. The process of claim 3 , wherein the tri-, tetra- and/or pentachlorinated alkane comprises a 1,1,2-trichloroalkane.
5. The process of claim 4 , wherein the tri-, tetra- and/or pentachlorinated alkane comprises 1,1,2-trichloropropane.
6. The process of claim 5 , wherein selectivity of the process to 1,1,2-trichloropropane is at least 20:1.
7. The process of claim 6 , wherein selectivity of the process to 1,1,2-trichloropropane is at least 40:1.
8. The process of claim 3 , wherein the tri-, tetra- and/or pentachlorinated alkane comprises a 1,2,2,3-tetrachloroalkane.
9. The process of claim 8 , wherein the tri-, tetra- and/or pentachlorinated alkane comprises 1,2,2,3-tetrachloropropane.
10. The process of claim 3 , wherein the tri-, tetra- and/or pentachlorinated alkane comprises a 1,1,2,2,3-pentachloroalkane.
11. The process of claim 10 , wherein the tri-, tetra- and/or pentachlorinated alkane comprises 1,1,2,2,3-pentachloropropane.
12. The process of claim 1 , wherein the process is conducted at a temperature of from 40° C. to 70° C.
13. The process of claim 1 , wherein the process is conducted at ambient pressure.
14. The process of claim 1 , wherein the process is carried out in a liquid phase reactor, and the reactor residence time is less than 1 hour.