The present invention provides a process for preparing at least one chlorinated alkene from at least one chlorinated alkane, using an aqueous base in a jet loop reactor.

The present invention provides a process for preparing at least one chlorinated alkene from at least one chlorinated alkane, using an aqueous base in a jet loop reactor.

Methods for the preparation of alkenes including insect pheromones are described. The methods include homologation reactions employing reagents such as 1,3-diesters, epoxides, cyanoacetates, and cyanide salts for elongation of starting materials and intermediates by one or two carbon atoms. The alkenes include insect pheromones useful in a number of agricultural applications.

Methods for the preparation of alkenes including insect pheromones are described. The methods include homologation reactions employing reagents such as 1,3-diesters, epoxides, cyanoacetates, and cyanide salts for elongation of starting materials and intermediates by one or two carbon atoms. The alkenes include insect pheromones useful in a number of agricultural applications.

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 preparing a chlorinated alkene, comprising contacting a chlorinated alkane with a catalyst in a dehydrochlorination zone to produce a liquid reaction mixture comprising the chlorinated alkane and the chlorinated alkene, and extracting chlorinated alkene from the reaction mixture, wherein the concentration of the chlorinated alkene in the reaction mixture present in the dehydrochlorination zone is controlled such that the molar ratio of chlorinated alkene:chlorinated alkane is from 1:99 to 50:50.

Disclosed is a process for preparing a chlorinated alkene, comprising contacting a chlorinated alkane with a catalyst in a dehydrochlorination zone to produce a liquid reaction mixture comprising the chlorinated alkane and the chlorinated alkene, and extracting chlorinated alkene from the reaction mixture, wherein the concentration of the chlorinated alkene in the reaction mixture present in the dehydrochlorination zone is controlled such that the molar ratio of chlorinated alkene:chlorinated alkane is from 1:99 to 50:50.

Disclosed is a process for preparing a chlorinated alkene, comprising contacting a chlorinated alkane with a catalyst in a dehydrochlorination zone to produce a liquid reaction mixture comprising the chlorinated alkane and the chlorinated alkene, and extracting chlorinated alkene from the reaction mixture, wherein the concentration of the chlorinated alkene in the reaction mixture present in the dehydrochlorination zone is controlled such that the molar ratio of chlorinated alkene:chlorinated alkane is from 1:99 to 50:50.

The present invention provides a process for preparing an 11-halo-3-undecene compound (7) in which X.sup.1 represents a halogen atom, the process comprising a step of subjecting a nucleophilic reagent, 3-hexenyl compound (5): in which M.sup.2 represents Li or MgZ.sup.2, wherein Z.sup.2 represents a halogen atom or a 3-hexenyl group, to a coupling reaction with a 1-halo-5-halopentane compound (6) in which X.sup.3 and X.sup.4 may be same with or different from each other and represent a halogen atom, to produce the 11-halo-3-undecene compound (7). The present invention also provides a process for preparing a 9-dodecenal compound (4): the process comprising a step of subjecting a nucleophilic reagent, 8-undecenyl compound (1) in which M.sup.1 represents Li or MgZ.sup.1, wherein Z.sup.1 represents a halogen atom or an 8-undecenyl group, and an orthoformic ester compound (2) in which R may be same with or different from each other and represents an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, to a nucleophilic substitution reaction to produce a 1,1-dialkoxy-9-dodecene compound (3) in which R are as defined above; and hydrolyzing the 1,1-dialkoxy-9-dodecene compound (3) thus obtained to produce the 9-dodecenal compound (4).

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