Treatment of organic compounds to reduce chlorine level

Abstract

The present invention relates to a process for reducing the chlorine content of an organochlorine compound comprising: introducing into the organochlorine compound, at least one Lewis acid to form a mixture, and contacting the organochlorine compound with the Lewis acid in the mixture in the absence of elemental carbon for a sufficient amount of time to reduce the chlorine content of the organochlorine compound. In another embodiment, a process is described for reducing the chlorine content of an organochlorine compound comprising contacting the organochlorine compound with (a) at least one acid selected from the group consisting of Lewis acids, mineral acids other than hydriodic acid and hydrobromic acid, and organic acids having a pKa of less than about 2, and (b) a source of iodine or bromine in the absence of elemental carbon for a sufficient amount of time to reduce the chlorine content of the organochlorine compound. In all embodiments of the invention, the organohalogen compound is contacted with the indicated acids and optionally the source of iodine or bromine in the absence of elemental carbon. In other embodiments, the organochlorine compounds may comprise a chlorine-containing polyalkenyl succinic anhydride, and a chlorine-containing reaction product of a polyisobutylene and maleic anhydride prepared in the presence of chlorine. Polyalkenylsuccinic anhydrides treated in accordance with the method of the present invention to reduce the chlorine content thereof may be further reacted with a polyamine or a polyol, or a mixture of a polyamine and a polyol to form the compounds which are useful as dispersants in lubricating oil compositions. Such dispersants and lubricating oil compositions also are described herein.