Processes for producing branched fluoroalkyl olefins are disclosed. In addition, novel halo-fluoroalkane intermediates are disclosed that may be used in the branched fluoroalkyl olefin production processes. Non-limiting examples of branched fluoroalkyl olefins include branched fluorobutenes, such as 1,3,4,4,4-pentafluoro-3-trifluoromethyl) but-1-ene (HFO-1438ezy). In some aspects, there is disclosed a method for dehydrobrominating 4-bromo-1,1,1,2,4-pentafluoro-2-(trifluoromethyl)butane to produce 1,3,4,4,4-pentafluoro-3-(trifluoromethyl)but-1-ene (HFO-1438ezy).

Processes for producing branched fluoroalkyl olefins are disclosed. In addition, novel halo-fluoroalkane intermediates are disclosed that may be used in the branched fluoroalkyl olefin production processes. Non-limiting examples of branched fluoroalkyl olefins include branched fluorobutenes, such as 1,3,4,4,4-pentafluoro-3-trifluoromethyl) but-1-ene (HFO-1438ezy). In some aspects, there is disclosed a method for dehydrobrominating 4-bromo-1,1,1,2,4-pentafluoro-2-(trifluoromethyl)butane to produce 1,3,4,4,4-pentafluoro-3-(trifluoromethyl)but-1-ene (HFO-1438ezy).

The present invention provides a process for preparing 3,3,3-trifluoropropene (1243zf), the process comprising: (a) fluorinating CCl.sub.3CH.sub.2CH.sub.2Cl (250fb) to produce a reaction product comprising CF.sub.3CH.sub.2CH.sub.2Cl (253fb) in the liquid phase in a first reactor, using HF as the fluorinating agent; and (b) (i) dehydrohalogenating 253fb to produce 1243zf in the vapour phase in the present of a catalyst in a second reactor; or (b)(ii) dehydrohalogenating 253fb to produce 1243zf in a second reactor, wherein the reaction product comprising 253fb produced in step (a) has subjected to one or more purification steps before step (b).

The present invention also provides an azeotropic or near-azeotropic composition comprising HF and 253fb.

The present invention provides a process for preparing 3,3,3-trifluoropropene (1243zf), the process comprising: (a) fluorinating CCl.sub.3CH.sub.2CH.sub.2Cl (250fb) to produce a reaction product comprising CF.sub.3CH.sub.2CH.sub.2Cl (253fb) in the liquid phase in a first reactor, using HF as the fluorinating agent; and (b) (i) dehydrohalogenating 253fb to produce 1243zf in the vapour phase in the present of a catalyst in a second reactor; or (b)(ii) dehydrohalogenating 253fb to produce 1243zf in a second reactor, wherein the reaction product comprising 253fb produced in step (a) has subjected to one or more purification steps before step (b).

The present invention also provides an azeotropic or near-azeotropic composition comprising HF and 253fb.

A cleaning method may include: bringing an article to be cleaned into contact with a liquid-phase solvent composition including 1-chloro-2,3,3-trifluoro-1-propene and 1-chloro-2,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropane; and exposing the article to be cleaned to steam generated by evaporating the liquid-phase solvent composition. In the liquid-phase composition, a proportion of a content of 1-chloro-2,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropane to a total of a content of 1-chloro-2,3,3-trifluoro-1-propene and a content of 1-chloro-2,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropane may be 0.0001 to 1 mass %.

A cleaning method may include: bringing an article to be cleaned into contact with a liquid-phase solvent composition including 1-chloro-2,3,3-trifluoro-1-propene and 1-chloro-2,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropane; and exposing the article to be cleaned to steam generated by evaporating the liquid-phase solvent composition. In the liquid-phase composition, a proportion of a content of 1-chloro-2,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropane to a total of a content of 1-chloro-2,3,3-trifluoro-1-propene and a content of 1-chloro-2,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropane may be 0.0001 to 1 mass %.

A method of synthesizing 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (1234yf) from 2-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene (1233xf). The 2-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene (1233xf) is reacted in the vapor phase, in the presence of a catalyst, at a temperature and pressure sufficient to selectively convert the 2-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene (1233xf) to 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (1234yf) without the use of antimony-based catalysts.

A method of synthesizing 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (1234yf) from 2-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene (1233xf). The 2-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene (1233xf) is reacted in the vapor phase, in the presence of a catalyst, at a temperature and pressure sufficient to selectively convert the 2-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene (1233xf) to 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (1234yf) without the use of antimony-based catalysts.

A process for the joint preparation of 1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene and 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene, comprising: (a) starting materials comprising at least one compound having the structure of formula I, II or III is reacted with hydrogen fluoride, producing 1,2,3-trichloro-3,3-difluoropropene, 1,2,3-trichloro-1,1,2-trifluoropropane, and 1,2,3-trichloro-1,1,3-trifluoropropane; in the compounds of said formulae CF.sub.2−mCl.sub.m=CCl-CHF.sub.2−nCl.sub.n (Formula I), CF.sub.3−pCl.sub.pCHCl=CH.sub.2Cl (Formula II), and CF.sub.3−xCl.sub.xCF.sub.2−yCl.sub.yCHF.sub.2−zCl.sub.z (Formula III), m=0, 1, 2; n=1, 2; p=2, 3; x=1, 2, 3; y=1, 2; z=1, 2 and 4≦x+y+z≦6; (b) the 1,2,3-trichloro-3,3-difluoropropene, 1,2,3-trichloro-1,1,2-trifluoropropane and 1,2,3-trichloro-1,1,3-trifluoropropane undergo dechlorination, producing 3-chloro-3,3-difluoropropyne, 3-chloro-2,3,3-trifluoropropene and 3-chloro-1,3,3-trifluoropropene; and (c) the 3-chloro-3,3-difluoropropyne, 3-chloro-2,3,3-trifluoropropene and 3-chloro-1,3,3-trifluoropropene are reacted with hydrogen fluoride, simultaneously yielding 1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene and 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropen.

FIG. 1 is designated as the drawing of the Abstract.

A process for the joint preparation of 1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene and 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene, comprising: (a) starting materials comprising at least one compound having the structure of formula I, II or III is reacted with hydrogen fluoride, producing 1,2,3-trichloro-3,3-difluoropropene, 1,2,3-trichloro-1,1,2-trifluoropropane, and 1,2,3-trichloro-1,1,3-trifluoropropane; in the compounds of said formulae CF.sub.2−mCl.sub.m=CCl-CHF.sub.2−nCl.sub.n (Formula I), CF.sub.3−pCl.sub.pCHCl=CH.sub.2Cl (Formula II), and CF.sub.3−xCl.sub.xCF.sub.2−yCl.sub.yCHF.sub.2−zCl.sub.z (Formula III), m=0, 1, 2; n=1, 2; p=2, 3; x=1, 2, 3; y=1, 2; z=1, 2 and 4≦x+y+z≦6; (b) the 1,2,3-trichloro-3,3-difluoropropene, 1,2,3-trichloro-1,1,2-trifluoropropane and 1,2,3-trichloro-1,1,3-trifluoropropane undergo dechlorination, producing 3-chloro-3,3-difluoropropyne, 3-chloro-2,3,3-trifluoropropene and 3-chloro-1,3,3-trifluoropropene; and (c) the 3-chloro-3,3-difluoropropyne, 3-chloro-2,3,3-trifluoropropene and 3-chloro-1,3,3-trifluoropropene are reacted with hydrogen fluoride, simultaneously yielding 1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene and 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropen.

FIG. 1 is designated as the drawing of the Abstract.