Occidental Chemical Corporation

Pravin M Khandare

Dean R Lagerwall

Mark F Lechner

Hang-Chang Bobby Chen

Daniel R Thielen

David Y Tang

Edward A Rowe

Viesturs Lesins

Mark E Lindrose

Arthur H Morth

Frank P Bermel

William L Rueter

A method of making a benzoyl halide is disclosed. Into a reactor is placed a reaction mixture of a benzotrihalide and a benzaldehyde having the respective general formulas

Method of making benzoyl halides and nitriles

Disclosed is a method of increasing the percentage of certain isomers made when di or tri-substituted benzenes are chlorinated in the presence of a Friedel-Crafts catalyst. The use of about 0.001 to about 1 wt % a cocatalyst during chlorination alters the isomeric ratio of the product mixture. In particular, the percentage of the 2,5-isomer is increased when said substituted benzene is ortho or meta-substituted, the percentage of the 3,4-isomer is increased when said substituted benzene is para-substituted, and the percentage of the 2,4,5-isomer is increased when said substituted benzene is 2,4-disubstituted, 3,4-disubstituted, or 2,5-disubstituted.

Method of increasing certain isomeric ratios in chlorinating substituted benzenes

Disclosed is a method of removing about 0.05 to about 20 mole % of a benzaldehyde or benzotrihalide from a mixture with a liquid compound that boils within about &minus;10 to about &plusmn;5&deg; C. of the boiling point of the benzaldehyde or benzotrihalide. To the mixture is added a benzotrihalide in an amount about stoichiometric to about 10 mole % in excess of stoichiometric, or, respectively, a benzaldehyde in an amount about stoichiometric with the amount of said benzotrihalide, where said benzaldehyde and said benzotrichloride react to form a benzalhalide and a benzoylhalide. The product mixture is distilled to isolate the products.

Method of reducing benzaldehyde or benzotrihalide content in a mixture

Disclosed is a method of making high purity 2,4- and 3,4-dichlorotoluene from parachlorotoluene that contains some metachlorotoluene. About 0.0001 to about 5 wt % of a Friedel-Crafts catalyst and about 0.5 to about 10 equivalents of a brominating agent are added to the parachlorotoluene. The metachlorotoluene is brominated, but most of the parachlorotoluene is not brominated. Without separating the brominated products from the unbrominated products, about 0.5 to about 1.5 equivalents of a chlorinating agent are added, whereby only the unbrominated products (i.e., the parachlorotoluene) are chlorinated. The resulting 2,4-dichlorotoluene and 3,4-dichlorotoluene can be separated by distillation.

Method of making high purity 2,4- and 3,4-dichlorotoluene

Disclosed is a method of making chlorinated hydrocarbons. A mixture is prepared of a hydrocarbon or partially chlorinated hydrocarbon from C.sub.18 to C.sub.30 and either benzotrifluoride or parachlorobenzotrifluoride in an amount sufficient to liquefy the mixture at the chlorination temperature. The mixture is heated to a temperature of about 50.degree. to 100.degree. C. and sufficient chlorine gas is passed therethrough in the presence of UV light to form a chlorinated hydrocarbon that is about 60 to about 80 wt. % chlorine. One part by weight of the composition is added to at least two parts by weight per part of a C.sub.1 to C.sub.6 monohydric alcohol, which results in the precipitation of the chlorinated hydrocarbon. The precipitated chlorinated hydrocarbon can be removed from the composition by, for example, filtration.

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Amherst, NY, United States of America

Pravin M Khandare