Vapor phase process for making 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane and 1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene

Claim 2

A process for the preparation of 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane comprising the steps of: (a) conducting a fluorination reaction by reacting 1,1,1,3,3-pentachloropropane with hydrogen fluoride in a reactor in the vapor phase and in the presence of a fluorination catalyst, thereby forming a reaction product comprising HCl, 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane, 1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene and 1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene; (b) separating 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane from said reaction product; and (c) subsequently recycling the 1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene and/or 1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene to a liquid phase reactor for reaction with HF to thereby produce additional 1,1,1,3,3 -pentafluoropropane.

Claim 3

The process of claim 1 wherein the liquid phase reaction is conducted with a fluorination catalyst selected from the group consisting of transition metal halides, Group IVb metal halides, Group Vb metal halides and mixtures thereof.

Claim 4

The process of claim 1 wherein the liquid phase reaction is conducted with a fluorination catalyst selected from the group consisting of SbCl 5 , SbCl 3 , TaCl 5 , SnCl 4 , NbCl 5 , TICl 4 , MoCl 5 and mixtures thereof.

Claim 5

A process for the preparation of 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane comprising the steps of: (a) conducting a fluorination reaction by reacting 1,1,1,3,3-pentachloropropane with hydrogen fluoride in a reactor in the vapor phase and in the presence of a fluorination catalyst, thereby forming a reaction product comprising HCl, 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane, 1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene and 1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene; and (b) separating 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane from said reaction product wherein said fluorination reaction is conducted with a fluorination catalyst selected from the group consisting of, chromium, aluminum, cobalt, manganese, nickel and iron oxides, hydroxides, halides, oxyhalides and inorganic salts thereof.

Claim 6

A process for the preparation of 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane comprising the steps of: (a) conducting a fluorination reaction by reacting 1,1,1,3,3-pentachloropropane with hydrogen fluoride in a reactor in the vapor phase and in the presence of a fluorination catalyst, thereby forming a reaction product comprising HCl, 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane, 1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene and 1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene; and (b) separating 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane from said reaction product wherein said fluorination reaction is conducted with a fluorination catalyst selected from the group consisting of, chromium, aluminum, cobalt, manganese, nickel and iron oxides, hydroxides, halides, oxyhalides and inorganic salts thereof.

Claim 7

The process of claim 4 further comprising subsequently removing said HCl from said reaction product.

Claim 8

The process of claim 4 further comprising additionally removing HCl from said reaction product before said separation.

Claim 9

The process of claim 4 further comprising subsequently recovering any unreacted HF present after said separation and recycling it back for said reaction with 1,1,3,3,3-pentachloropropane.

Claim 10

The process of claim 4 wherein said 1,1,1,3,3-pentachloropropane is pre-vaporized.

Claim 11

The process of claim 4 wherein said HF is pre-vaporized.

Claim 12

The process of claim 4 wherein said 1,1,1,3,3-pentachloropropane and said HF are pre-vaporized.

Claim 13

The process of claim 4 wherein the 1,1,1,3,3-pentachloropropane and HF are vaporized in the reactor.

Claim 14

The process of claim 4 wherein said fluorination reaction is conducted at a temperature of from about 80° C. to about 400° C.

Claim 15

The process of claim 4 wherein said fluorination reaction is conducted at atmospheric pressure or under a vacuum.

Claim 16

The process of claim 4 wherein the fluorination catalyst is a chromium catalyst selected from the group consisting of, Cr 2 O 3 /Al 2 O 3 , Cr 2 O 3 /AlF 3 , Cr 2 O 3 /carbon, CoCl 2 /Cr 2 O 3 /Al 2 O 3 , NiCl 2 /Cr 2 O 3 /Al 2 O 3 , CoCl 2 /AlF 3 and NiCl 2 /AlF 3 .

Claim 17

The process of claim 4 further comprising subsequently recycling the 1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene and/or 1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene and reacting the 1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene and/or 1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene with HF.

Claim 18

The process of claim 4 wherein said fluorination catalyst is chromium (III) oxide.

Claim 19

The process of claim 4 wherein said separation is conducted by distillation.

Claim 20

The process of claim 17 wherein the distillation is conducted at a pressure of from less than about 300 psig.

Claim 21

The process of claim 4 wherein the fluorination catalyst contact time is from about 1 second to about 120 seconds.

Claim 22

The process of claim 4 wherein the mole ratio of HF to 1,1,1,3,3-pentachloropropane ranges from about 3:1 to about 100:1.

Claim 23

The process of claim 4 wherein the conversion of 1,1,1,3,3-pentachloropropane is at least about 99%.

Claim 24

A process for the preparation of 1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene which comprises: (a) conducting a fluorination reaction by reacting 1,1,1,3,3-pentachloropropane with hydrogen fluoride in a reactor in the vapor phase and in the presence of a fluorination catalyst, thereby forming a reaction product comprising HCl, 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane, 1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene and 1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene, and (b) separating 1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene from said reaction product.

Claim 25

A process for the preparation of 1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene which comprises: (a) conducting a fluorination reaction by reacting 1,1,1,3,3-pentachloropropane with hydrogen fluoride in a reactor in the vapor phase and in the presence of a fluorination catalyst, thereby forming a reaction product comprising HCl, 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane, 1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene and 1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene, and (b) separating 1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene from said reaction product.

Claim 26

A process for the preparation of 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane which comprises: (a) conducting a fluorination reaction by reacting one or more components comprised of 1,1-dichloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropane, 1-chloro-1,3,3,3,-tetrafluoropropane or 1,1,3-trichloro-3,3-difluoropropane with hydrogen fluoride in a reactor in the vapor phase and in the presence of a fluorination catalyst, thereby forming a reaction product comprising HCl, 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane, 1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene and 1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene, and (b) separating 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane from said reaction product wherein said fluorination reaction is conducted with a fluorination catalyst selected from the group consisting of, chromium, aluminum, cobalt, manganese, nickel and iron oxides, hydroxides, halides, oxyhalides and inorganic salts thereof.

Claim 27

A process for the preparation of 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane which comprises: (a) conducting a fluorination reaction by reacting one or more components comprised of 1,1-dichloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropane, 1-chloro-1,3,3,3,-tetrafluoropropane or 1,1,3-trichloro-3,3-difluoropropane with hydrogen fluoride in a reactor in the vapor phase and in the presence of a fluorination catalyst, thereby forming a reaction product comprising HCl, 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane, 1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene and 1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene, and (b) separating 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane from said reaction product wherein said fluorination reaction is conducted with a fluorination catalyst selected from the group consisting of, chromium, aluminum, cobalt, manganese, nickel and iron oxides, hydroxides, halides, oxyhalides and inorganic salts thereof.

Claim 28

A process for the preparation of 1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene which comprises: (a) conducting a fluorination reaction by reacting one or more components comprised of 1,1-dichloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropane, 1-chloro-1,3,3,3,-tetrafluoropropane or 1,1,3-trichloro-3,3-difluoropropane with hydrogen fluoride in a reactor in the vapor phase and in the presence of a fluorination catalyst, thereby forming a reaction product comprising HCl, 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane, 1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene and 1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene, and (b) separating 1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene from said reaction product.

Claim 29

A process for the preparation of 1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene which comprises: (a) conducting a fluorination reaction by reacting one or more components comprised of 1,1-dichloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropane, 1-chloro-1,3,3,3,-tetrafluoropropane or 1,1,3-trichloro-3,3-difluoropropane with hydrogen fluoride in a reactor in the vapor phase and in the presence of a fluorination catalyst, thereby forming a reaction product comprising HCl, 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane, 1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene and 1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene, and (b) separating 1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene from said reaction product.