Process for producing a chlorinated c3-6 alkane

Abstract

Disclosed is a process for producing a chlorinated C3-6 alkane comprising providing a reaction mixture comprising an alkene and carbon tetrachloride in a principal alkylation zone to produce chlorinated C3-6 alkane in the reaction mixture, and extracting a portion of the reaction mixture from the principal alkylation zone, wherein: a) the concentration of the chlorinated C3-6 alkane in the reaction mixture in the principal alkylation zone is maintained at a level such that the molar ratio of chlorinated C3-6 alkane:carbon tetrachloride in the reaction mixture extracted from the alkylation zone does not exceed 95:5 when the principal alkylation zone is in continuous operation; and/or b) the reaction mixture extracted from the principal alkylation zone additionally comprises alkene and the reaction mixture is subjected to a dealkenation step in which at least about 50% or more by weight of the alkene present in the reaction mixture is extracted therefrom and at least about 50% of the extracted alkene is fed back into the reaction mixture provided in the principal alkylation zone; and/or c) the reaction mixture present in the principal alkylation zone and extracted from the principal alkylation zone additionally comprises a catalyst, and the reaction mixture extracted from the principal alkylation zone is subjected to an aqueous treatment step in which the reaction mixture is contacted with an aqueous medium in an aqueous treatment zone, a biphasic mixture is formed and an organic phase comprising catalyst is extracted from the biphasic mixture.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.