Catalytical synthesis of internal fluorobutenes and internal fluoropentenes

Abstract

A vapor phase process is disclosed for making internal fluorobutenes. The process involves contacting a halobutane starting material selected from the group consisting of CFHCHClCHCClH, CFHCHClCHCCl, CFCHClCHCClH, CFCHClCHCCl, CFCHClCHClCClH, CFCHClCHClCCl, CFCClCHCClH, CFCClCHCCl, CFCClCHClCClH, CFCClCHClCCl, CFCClFCHClCClH, CFCClFCHClCCl, CFCClFCHCClH, CFCClFCHCCl, CFCClFCHFCClH, CFCClFCHFCCl, CFCClHCHFCClH and CFCClHCHFCCl, with HF in a reaction zone in the presence of a chromium oxyfluoride catalyst to produce a product mixture comprising an internal fluorobutene. Another vapor phase process is disclosed for making internal fluoropentenes. The process involves contacting a halopentane starting material selected from the group consisting of CFHCHXCHCXCX, CFCHXCHCXCX, CFCHXCHXCXCX, CFCXCHCXCX, CFCXCHXCXCXand CFCHXCHFCXCX, with HF in a reaction zone in the presence of a chromium oxyfluoride catalyst to produce a product mixture comprising an internal fluoropentene, wherein each X is independently selected from the group consisting of F, Cl and Br, provided that not all X are fluorines.