The invention relates to a process for the preparation of compound of formula (I) wherein R.sub.1 is halogen and R.sub.2 is halogen or hydrogen; comprising a) reacting the compound of formula (II) in an aprotic organic solvent in the presence of an aprotic polar co-solvent with a magnesium amide base followed by a halogenating agent, to the compound of formula I wherein R.sub.1 is halogen and R.sub.2 is hydrogen, and b) reacting the compound of formula (I), wherein R.sub.1 is chloro and R.sub.2 is hydrogen, in an aprotic organic solvent in the presence of an aprotic polar co-solvent with a magnesium amide base followed by a halogenating agent to a compound of formula I, wherein R.sub.1 is chloro and R.sub.2 is halogen. ##STR00001##

The invention relates to a process for the preparation of compound of formula (I) wherein R.sub.1 is halogen and R.sub.2 is halogen or hydrogen; comprising a) reacting the compound of formula (II) in an aprotic organic solvent in the presence of an aprotic polar co-solvent with a magnesium amide base followed by a halogenating agent, to the compound of formula I wherein R.sub.1 is halogen and R.sub.2 is hydrogen, and b) reacting the compound of formula (I), wherein R.sub.1 is chloro and R.sub.2 is hydrogen, in an aprotic organic solvent in the presence of an aprotic polar co-solvent with a magnesium amide base followed by a halogenating agent to a compound of formula I, wherein R.sub.1 is chloro and R.sub.2 is halogen. ##STR00001##

The present invention provides processes for the production of chlorinated methanes via the direct chlorination of methane. The processes include a dehydrochlorination and/or chlorination step that converts up to 100% of the higher chlorinated alkanes in a process stream from the methane chlorination reaction into more highly chlorinated alkanes. These more highly chlorinated alkanes can be easily removed from the process stream. The use of a cost effective feedstream of crude methane is thus rendered possible, without additional capital expenditure for the sophisticated separation equipment required to separate ethane and other hydrocarbon components from the methane feed.

The present invention provides processes for the production of chlorinated methanes via the direct chlorination of methane. The processes include a dehydrochlorination and/or chlorination step that converts up to 100% of the higher chlorinated alkanes in a process stream from the methane chlorination reaction into more highly chlorinated alkanes. These more highly chlorinated alkanes can be easily removed from the process stream. The use of a cost effective feedstream of crude methane is thus rendered possible, without additional capital expenditure for the sophisticated separation equipment required to separate ethane and other hydrocarbon components from the methane feed.

In the halogenation reaction of organic olefin compounds, an excess amount of halogen gas (fluorine, chlorine, vaporized bromine and iodine, or their combination) is normally used in order to achieve as complete as possible conversion of the organic starting material. In a conventional process, the excess halogen gas in the off-gas stream is scrubbed by caustic solution which increases the consumption of halogen and generates waste for disposal. The present invention provides a novel process to recover and reuse the excess halogen gas and thus reduce the operating cost of the process.

In the halogenation reaction of organic olefin compounds, an excess amount of halogen gas (fluorine, chlorine, vaporized bromine and iodine, or their combination) is normally used in order to achieve as complete as possible conversion of the organic starting material. In a conventional process, the excess halogen gas in the off-gas stream is scrubbed by caustic solution which increases the consumption of halogen and generates waste for disposal. The present invention provides a novel process to recover and reuse the excess halogen gas and thus reduce the operating cost of the process.

The present invention generally relates to alcohol-terminated polyisobutylene (PIB) compounds, and to a process for making such compounds. In one embodiment, the present invention relates to primary alcohol-terminated polyisobutylene compounds, and to a process for making such compounds. In still another embodiment, the present invention relates to polyisobutylene compounds that can be used to synthesize polyurethanes, to polyurethane compounds made via the use of such polyisobutylene compounds, and to processes for making such compounds. In yet another embodiment, the present invention relates to primary alcohol-terminated polyisobutylene compounds having two or more primary alcohol termini and to a process for making such compounds. In yet another embodiment, the present invention relates to primary terminated polyisobutylene compounds having two or more primary termini selected from amine groups or methacrylate group.

The present invention relates to a 1-halo-2,6,14-trimethyloctadecane compound of the following general formula (1), wherein X.sup.1 represents a halogen atom. The present invention further relates to a process for preparing a 5,13,17-trimethylalkane compound of the following general formula (4), wherein n represents an integer of 14 to 18, the process comprising converting the aforesaid 1-halo-2,6,14-trimethyloctadecane compound (1) into a nucleophilic reagent, 2,6,14-trimethyloctadecyl, of the following general formula (2), wherein M.sup.1 represents Li or MgZ.sup.1, and Z.sup.1 represents a halogen atom or a 2,6,14-trimethyloctadecyl group, and subsequently subjecting the nucleophilic reagent, 2,6,14-trimethyloctadecyl compound (2), to a coupling reaction with an electrophilic alkyl reagent (3) of the following general formula (3), wherein X.sup.2 represents a halogen atom or a p-toluenesulfonyloxy group, and n is as defined above, to obtain the aforesaid 5,13,17-trimethylalkane compound (4).

##STR00001##

The present invention relates to a 1-halo-2,6,14-trimethyloctadecane compound of the following general formula (1), wherein X.sup.1 represents a halogen atom. The present invention further relates to a process for preparing a 5,13,17-trimethylalkane compound of the following general formula (4), wherein n represents an integer of 14 to 18, the process comprising converting the aforesaid 1-halo-2,6,14-trimethyloctadecane compound (1) into a nucleophilic reagent, 2,6,14-trimethyloctadecyl, of the following general formula (2), wherein M.sup.1 represents Li or MgZ.sup.1, and Z.sup.1 represents a halogen atom or a 2,6,14-trimethyloctadecyl group, and subsequently subjecting the nucleophilic reagent, 2,6,14-trimethyloctadecyl compound (2), to a coupling reaction with an electrophilic alkyl reagent (3) of the following general formula (3), wherein X.sup.2 represents a halogen atom or a p-toluenesulfonyloxy group, and n is as defined above, to obtain the aforesaid 5,13,17-trimethylalkane compound (4).

##STR00001##

Provided is a process for making 2-chloro-1,1,1,2-tetrafluoropropane. The process has the step of hydrofluorinating 2-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene in the presence of a catalyst selected from the group consisting of SbCl.sub.3, SbCl.sub.5, SbF.sub.5, TiCl.sub.4, SnCl.sub.4, Cr.sub.2O.sub.3, and fluorinated Cr.sub.2O.sub.3.