Process for the preparation of haloalkanesulfonic acids from sulfur trioxide and a haloalkane

A method of preparing a haloalkanesulfonic acid comprising:

• reacting a haloalkane and sulfur trioxide at a temperature of 60° C. or below and using at least one initiator of formula (III):
• ALK-SO2—O—O—SO2—OX (III),
• wherein
• ALK is selected from the group consisting of branched alkyl, halogenated branched alkyl, unbranched alkyl, and halogenated unbranched alkyl;
• and
• X is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, zinc, aluminium, an alkali earth metal, and an alkaline-earth metal.

A method of preparing a haloalkanesulfonic acid comprising:

• mixing hydrogen peroxide, an oxoacid, and optionally a solvent to form a catalytic mixture;
• reacting sulfur trioxide with the catalytic mixture to create an activated form of sulfur trioxide;
• and
• reacting the activated form of sulfur trioxide with a haloalkane at a temperature of 60° C. or below to form a haloalkanesulfonic acid.

A process for the preparation of haloalkanesulfonic acids from haloalkanes and sulfur trioxide comprising the steps of:

• i) providing sulfur trioxide;
• ii) reacting the sulfur trioxide with a haloalkane in a high-pressure autoclave or laboratory reactor;
• iii) setting a pressure of from 1 to 200 bar;
• iv) introducing
• a) a peroxoacid of formula (I)
• ALK-SO2—O—O—X (I),
• wherein
• ALK is selected from the group consisting of branched alkyl, halogenated branched alkyl, unbranched alkyl, and halogenated unbranched alkyl;
• and
• X is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, zinc, aluminium, an alkali earth metal, and an alkaline earth metal;
• or
• b) an initiator of of formula (III):
• ALK-SO2—O—O—SO2—OX (III),
• wherein
• ALK selected from the group consisting of branched alkyl, halogenated branched alkyl, unbranched alkyl, and halogenated unbranched alkyl;
• and
• X is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, zinc, aluminium, an alkali earth metal, and an alkaline earth metal;
• v) controlling the temperature of the reaction mixture at 0° C. to 60° C.;
• and
• vi) optionally, purifying the reaction product by distillation or extraction.

A process for the preparation of haloalkanesulfonic acids from haloalkanes and sulfur trioxide comprising the steps of

• i) providing sulfur trioxide;
• ii) reacting the sulfur trioxide with a haloalkane in a high-pressure autoclave or laboratory reactor;
• iii) setting a pressure of from 1 to 200 bar;
• iv) introducing a mixture of hydrogen peroxide, an oxoacid, and optionally a solvent, wherein the compounds of the mixture are introduced sequentially or simultaneously
• v) controlling the temperature of the reaction mixture at 0° C. to 60° C.;
• and
• vi) optionally, purifying the reaction product by distillation or extraction.