Process for addition of haloalkanes to alkenes catalyzed by an organophosphite compound

Abstract

A process for catalytic addition of haloalkanes to alkenes involving the step of reacting the haloalkane with the alkene in the presence of a catalyst. The catalyst is an organophosphite compound represented by the following formula: P(OR,)(OR,)(OR,), where R,, R,, and R,are each an alkyl group or an aralkyl group. The haloalkane is as follows: (i) CR,R,R,R,, wherein (a) each of R,, R,, R,and R,is selected from the group consisting of a chlorine atom, a bromine atom or an iodine atom; or (b) R,is selected from the group consisting of a linear alkyl group; a halo-substituted linear alkyl group; an aralkyl group; an aralkyl group substituted with at least one of a halogen atom on the alkyl portion thereof or a halogen atom, alkyl group, alkoxy group or —CO,R,wherein R,is a C,-C,alkyl group on the aryl portion thereof; an aryl group and an aryl group substituted with at least one of a chlorine atom, a fluorine atom, an alkoxy group or a —CO,R,group, wherein R,is a C,-C,alkyl group; and R,, R,and R,are as follows: R,is an iodine atom and R,and R,are each a halogen atom except R,and R,are not each a bromine atom or R,and R,are each a bromine atom and R,is a halogen atom. The catalyzed addition of the haloalkane to the alkene proceeds without any other components present in an excess amount, by weight, of the combined amount of the haloalkane, alkene and organophosphite catalyst compound.