The present invention provides a method of converting a brominated hydrocarbon to a chlorinated hydrocarbon that involves contacting together the brominated hydrocarbon and a chlorinated ion exchange resin that has a water content of less than or equal to 30 percent by weight, based on the total weight of the chlorinated ion exchange resin and the water. The brominated hydrocarbon includes at least one replaceable bromo group, where each replaceable bromo group is independently covalently bonded to an sp.sup.3 hybridized carbon. Contact between the brominated hydrocarbon and the chlorinated ion exchange resin results in replacement of at least one replaceable bromo group of the brominated hydrocarbon with a chloro group, and correspondingly conversion of at least a portion of the brominated hydrocarbon to the chlorinated hydrocarbon.

The present invention provides a method of converting a brominated hydrocarbon to a chlorinated hydrocarbon that involves contacting together the brominated hydrocarbon and a chlorinated ion exchange resin that has a water content of less than or equal to 30 percent by weight, based on the total weight of the chlorinated ion exchange resin and the water. The brominated hydrocarbon includes at least one replaceable bromo group, where each replaceable bromo group is independently covalently bonded to an sp.sup.3 hybridized carbon. Contact between the brominated hydrocarbon and the chlorinated ion exchange resin results in replacement of at least one replaceable bromo group of the brominated hydrocarbon with a chloro group, and correspondingly conversion of at least a portion of the brominated hydrocarbon to the chlorinated hydrocarbon.

A process for producing a reaction mixture comprising a plurality of C.sub.3 chlorinated alkane isomers comprising chlorinating a C.sub.3 chlorinated alkane starting material in a chlorination zone to produce the plurality of C.sub.3 chlorinated alkane isomers, the plurality of C.sub.3 chlorinated alkane isomers each having at least one more chlorine atom than the C.sub.3 chlorinated alkane starting material, wherein the concentration of the C.sub.3 chlorinated alkane starting material is controlled such that conversion of the C.sub.3 chlorinated alkane starting material to the plurality of C.sub.3 chlorinated alkane isomers, represented by the molar ratio of the C.sub.3 chlorinated alkane starting material:C.sub.3 chlorinated alkane isomers in the reaction mixture present in the chlorination zone, does not exceed about 40:60.

A process for producing a reaction mixture comprising a plurality of C.sub.3 chlorinated alkane isomers comprising chlorinating a C.sub.3 chlorinated alkane starting material in a chlorination zone to produce the plurality of C.sub.3 chlorinated alkane isomers, the plurality of C.sub.3 chlorinated alkane isomers each having at least one more chlorine atom than the C.sub.3 chlorinated alkane starting material, wherein the concentration of the C.sub.3 chlorinated alkane starting material is controlled such that conversion of the C.sub.3 chlorinated alkane starting material to the plurality of C.sub.3 chlorinated alkane isomers, represented by the molar ratio of the C.sub.3 chlorinated alkane starting material:C.sub.3 chlorinated alkane isomers in the reaction mixture present in the chlorination zone, does not exceed about 40:60.

Disclosed is a process for producing a chlorinated C3-6 alkane comprising providing a reaction mixture comprising an alkene and carbon tetrachloride in a principal alkylation zone to produce chlorinated C3-6 alkane in the reaction mixture, and extracting a portion of the reaction mixture from the principal alkylation zone, wherein: a) the concentration of the chlorinated C3-6 alkane in the reaction mixture in the principal alkylation zone is maintained at a level such that the molar ratio of chlorinated C3-6 alkane:carbon tetrachloride in the reaction mixture extracted from the alkylation zone does not exceed 95:5 when the principal alkylation zone is in continuous operation; and/or b) the reaction mixture extracted from the principal alkylation zone additionally comprises alkene and the reaction mixture is subjected to a dealkenation step in which at least about 50% or more by weight of the alkene present in the reaction mixture is extracted therefrom and at least about 50% of the extracted alkene is fed back into the reaction mixture provided in the principal alkylation zone; and/or c) the reaction mixture present in the principal alkylation zone and extracted from the principal alkylation zone additionally comprises a catalyst, and the reaction mixture extracted from the principal alkylation zone is subjected to an aqueous treatment step in which the reaction mixture is contacted with an aqueous medium in an aqueous treatment zone, a biphasic mixture is formed and an organic phase comprising catalyst is extracted from the biphasic mixture.

Disclosed is a process for producing a chlorinated C3-6 alkane comprising providing a reaction mixture comprising an alkene and carbon tetrachloride in a principal alkylation zone to produce chlorinated C3-6 alkane in the reaction mixture, and extracting a portion of the reaction mixture from the principal alkylation zone, wherein: a) the concentration of the chlorinated C3-6 alkane in the reaction mixture in the principal alkylation zone is maintained at a level such that the molar ratio of chlorinated C3-6 alkane:carbon tetrachloride in the reaction mixture extracted from the alkylation zone does not exceed 95:5 when the principal alkylation zone is in continuous operation; and/or b) the reaction mixture extracted from the principal alkylation zone additionally comprises alkene and the reaction mixture is subjected to a dealkenation step in which at least about 50% or more by weight of the alkene present in the reaction mixture is extracted therefrom and at least about 50% of the extracted alkene is fed back into the reaction mixture provided in the principal alkylation zone; and/or c) the reaction mixture present in the principal alkylation zone and extracted from the principal alkylation zone additionally comprises a catalyst, and the reaction mixture extracted from the principal alkylation zone is subjected to an aqueous treatment step in which the reaction mixture is contacted with an aqueous medium in an aqueous treatment zone, a biphasic mixture is formed and an organic phase comprising catalyst is extracted from the biphasic mixture.

Disclosed is a process for producing a chlorinated C3-6 alkane comprising providing a reaction mixture comprising an alkene and carbon tetrachloride in a principal alkylation zone to produce chlorinated C3-6 alkane in the reaction mixture, and extracting a portion of the reaction mixture from the principal alkylation zone, wherein: a) the concentration of the chlorinated C3-6 alkane in the reaction mixture in the principal alkylation zone is maintained at a level such that the molar ratio of chlorinated C3-6 alkane:carbon tetrachloride in the reaction mixture extracted from the alkylation zone does not exceed 95:5 when the principal alkylation zone is in continuous operation; and/or b) the reaction mixture extracted from the principal alkylation zone additionally comprises alkene and the reaction mixture is subjected to a dealkenation step in which at least about 50% or more by weight of the alkene present in the reaction mixture is extracted therefrom and at least about 50% of the extracted alkene is fed back into the reaction mixture provided in the principal alkylation zone; and/or c) the reaction mixture present in the principal alkylation zone and extracted from the principal alkylation zone additionally comprises a catalyst, and the reaction mixture extracted from the principal alkylation zone is subjected to an aqueous treatment step in which the reaction mixture is contacted with an aqueous medium in an aqueous treatment zone, a biphasic mixture is formed and an organic phase comprising catalyst is extracted from the biphasic mixture.

The present invention provides improved processes for preparing halogenated alkanes. The processes comprise contacting at least one alkene, a halogenated alkene, or combinations thereof with a halogenated methane with at least one chlorine atom to form a liquid phase. This liquid phase is then contacted with at least one catalytic species which initiates the reaction with at least one alkene, a halogenated alkene, or combinations thereof with a halogenated methane with at least one chlorine atoms.

The present invention provides improved processes for preparing halogenated alkanes. The processes comprise contacting at least one alkene, a halogenated alkene, or combinations thereof with a halogenated methane with at least one chlorine atom to form a liquid phase. This liquid phase is then contacted with at least one catalytic species which initiates the reaction with at least one alkene, a halogenated alkene, or combinations thereof with a halogenated methane with at least one chlorine atoms.

The present invention provides a method of converting a brominated hydrocarbon to a chlorinated hydrocarbon that involves contacting together the brominated hydrocarbon and a chlorinated ion exchange resin that has a water content of less than or equal to 30 percent by weight, based on the total weight of the chlorinated ion exchange resin and the water. The brominated hydrocarbon includes at least one replaceable bromo group, where each replaceable bromo group is independently covalently bonded to an sp.sup.3 hybridized carbon. Contact between the brominated hydrocarbon and the chlorinated ion exchange resin results in replacement of at least one replaceable bromo group of the brominated hydrocarbon with a chloro group, and correspondingly conversion of at least a portion of the brominated hydrocarbon to the chlorinated hydrocarbon.