Process for producing 1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluorobut-2-ene

1. A process for producing E-1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluorobut-2-ene comprising contacting 1,1,2,4,4-pentachlorobuta-1,3-diene with HF in the vapor phase in the presence of a fluorination catalyst to produce a product mixture comprising E-1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluorobut-2-ene, wherein the process is performed at a temperature in the range of 275 to 375° C.

2. The process of claim 1 , wherein the fluorination catalyst is chosen from carbon; graphite; alumina; fluorinated alumina; aluminum fluoride; alumina supported on carbon; aluminum fluoride supported on carbon; fluorinated alumina supported on carbon; magnesium fluoride supported on aluminum fluoride; metals; metals supported on aluminum fluoride; metals supported on fluorinated alumina; metals supported on alumina; and metals supported on carbon; mixtures of metals, wherein the metals are chosen from chromium, iron, cobalt, nickel, ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium, iridium, platinum, manganese, rhenium, scandium, yttrium, lanthanum, titanium, zirconium, and hafnium, copper, silver, gold, zinc, and metals having an atomic number of 58 through 71.

3. The process of claim 1 , wherein HF is added in an amount of 10 to 30 moles per mole of 1,1,2,4,4-pentachlorobuta-1,3-diene.

4. The process of claim 1 , wherein the process is performed at a temperature in the range of 300 to 350° C.

5. The process of claim 1 , wherein the process is performed at a pressure in the range of 0 to 200 psi (0 to 1.4 MPa).

6. The process of claim 1 further comprising producing 1,1,2,4,4-pentachlorobuta-1,3-diene by contacting trichloroethylene with a dimerization catalyst comprising iron to produce a product mixture comprising 1,1,2,4,4-pentachlorobuta-1,3-diene.

7. The process of claim 6 wherein trichloroethylene is contacted with a dimerization catalyst comprising iron and pentachloroethane.

8. The process of claim 1 , wherein the fluorination catalyst is a chromium-based catalysts.

9. The process of claim 8 , wherein the chromium-based catalyst is chromium oxyfluoride or chromium oxide, which is unsupported, or supported on activated carbon, graphite, fluorinated graphite, or fluorinated alumina.

10. A process for producing E-1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluorobut-2-ene comprising:

(a) producing 1,1,2,4,4-pentachlorobuta-1,3-dieneby contacting trichloroethylene with a dimerization catalyst to produce a product mixture comprising 1,1,2,4,4-pentachlorobuta-1,3-diene; and

(b) contacting 1,1,2,4,4-pentachlorobuta-1,3-diene with HF in the presence of a fluorination catalyst to produce a product mixture comprising E-1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluorobut-2-ene, wherein the process is a vapor phase process.

11. A process for producing E-1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluorobut-2-ene comprising:

(a) producing 1,1,2,4,4-pentachlorobuta-1,3-diene by contacting trichloroethylene with a dimerization catalyst and pentachloroethane to produce a product mixture comprising 1,1,2,4,4-pentachlorobuta-1,3-diene; and

(b) contacting 1,1,2,4,4-pentachlorobuta-1,3-diene with HF in the presence of a fluorination catalyst to produce a product mixture comprising E-1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluorobut-2-ene, wherein the process is a vapor phase process.

12. A process to produce Z-1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluorobut-2-ene, comprising:

(a) contacting trichloroethylene with a dimerization catalyst to produce a product mixture comprising 1,1,2,4,4-pentachlorobuta-1,3-diene;

(b) contacting 1,1,2,4,4-pentachlorobuta-1,3-diene with HF in the presence of a fluorination catalyst to produce a product mixture comprising E-1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluoro-2-butene, wherein the process is a vapor phase process;

(c) contacting E-1, 1,1,4,4,4-hexafluoro-2-butene with a chlorine source to produce a product mixture comprising 2,3-dichloro-1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluorobutane;

(d) contacting 2,3-dichloro-1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluorobutane with base to produce a product mixture comprising 1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluoro-2-butyne; and

(e) contacting 1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluoro-2-butyne with H 2 to produce a product mixture comprising Z-1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluorobut-2-ene.