Hydrofluorination of a halogenated olefin with SbF5 in the liquid phase

1. A method for preparing a hydrofluoroalkane of formula RCXFCHYZ comprising reacting HF with an olefin comprising at least one member selected from the group consisting of 2-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene, 1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluooropropene, chlorotetrafluoropropenes, 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene, 1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene, and 3,3,3-trifluoropropene in the liquid phase in the presence of a catalyst at a temperature ranging from about −30° C. to about 25° C. to produce the hydrofluoroalkane, wherein X, Y and Z are independently the same or different and are H, F, or Cl, and R is trifluoromethyl, and wherein the catalyst is SbF 5 .

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mole ratio of HF to the olefin is in the range of from about 1 to about 10.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the mole ratio of HF to the olefin is in the range of from about 1 to about 5.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the catalyst is present in an amount from about 1% to about 50% by weight of a mixture comprising said olefin, catalyst and HF.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the catalyst is present in an amount from about 2% to about 30% by weight of the mixture.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the catalyst is present in an amount from about 3% to about 15% by weight of the mixture.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the temperature is from about 5° C. to about 25° C.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the hydrofluoroalkane is 2-chloro-1,1,1,2-tetrafluoropropane.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the olefin is 2-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene and the hydrofluoroalkane is 2-chloro-1,1,1,2-tetrafluoropropane.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the 2-chloro-1,1,1,2-tetrafluoropropane is dehydrochlorinated to form 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoro-1-propene.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the olefin is (Z)- or (E)-1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluooropropene, and the hydrofluoroalkane is 3-chloro-1,1,1,3-tetrafluoropropane.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the olefin is 1-chloro-2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene and the hydrofluoroalkane is 1,1,1,2,2-pentafluoro-3-chloropropane or 1,1,1,2,3-pentafluoro-3-chloropropane.

13. The method of claim 1 where the olefin is 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene and the hydrofluoroalkane is 1,1,1,2,2-pentafluoropropane.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the olefin is 1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene and the hydrofluoroalkane is 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane.

15. A method for preparing 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoro-1-propene comprising reacting 2-chloro-1,1,1-trifluoropropene with HF in a liquid phase reactor charged with a hydrofluorination catalyst at a reaction temperature above 65° C. to produce a mixture of 2-chloro-1,1,1-trifluoropropene and 2-chloro-1,1,1,2-tetrafluoropropane; reacting HF with said mixture in the liquid phase in the presence of SbF 5 at a temperature ranging from about −30° C. to about 65° C. to further react the unconverted 2-chloro-1,1,1-trifluoropropene to form additional 2-chloro-1,1,1,2-tetrafluoropropane and dehydrohalogenating 2-chloro-1,1,1,2-tetrafluoropropane in a vapor phase reactor with or without a catalyst to form 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoro-1-propene.

16. The method according to claim 15 wherein the temperature for reacting the unconverted 2-chloro-1,1,1-1,1,1-trifluoropropne with HF in the presence of SbF 5 ranges from about −30° C. to about 25° C.

17. A method for preparing 3-chloro-1,1,1,3-tetrafluoropropane comprises reacting HF with an olefin selected from the group consisting of (Z) and (E) 1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene in the liquid phase in the presence of SbF 5 at a temperature ranging from about −30° C. to about 65° C.

18. A method for preparing a hydrofluoroalkane selected from the group consisting of 1,1,1,2,2-pentafluoro-3-chloropropane and 1,1,1,2,3-pentafluoro-3-chloropropane comprising reacting HF with 1-chloro-2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene in the liquid phase in the presence of SbF 5 at a temperature ranging from about −30° C. to about 65° C. to produce the hydrofluoroalkane.