Preparation of chlorohydrins

A process for preparing a chlorohydrin which comprises reacting an unsubstituted or substituted olefin or cyclic olefin having 2 to 8 carbon atoms and in which the substituent is selected from the group consisting of an alkyl radical, a phenyl radical and an alkylphenyl radical, each of said radicals being itself unsubstituted or substituted with a halide or a hydroxide, with an aqueous hypochlorous acid solution containing from about 20 to about 65 percent by weight of hypochlorous acid and being substantially free of chloride, chlorate and alkali metal ions, said reaction being carried out in an essentially aqueous medium.

A process for the preparation of a chlorohydrin which comprises the following steps:

• (i) forming a hypochlorous acid solution from a gaseous mixture of chlorine monoxide, hypochlorous acid vapor, chlorine, and water vapor, by condensing the gaseous mixture, at a temperature of from about 5.degree. C. to about +20.degree. C., and
• (ii) reacting the hypochlorous acid solution with at least one unsaturated organic compound containing from 2 to about 10 carbon atoms selected from the group consisting of substituted and unsubstituted olefins and cyclic olefins, the substituents being selected from an alkyl radical, a phenyl radical and an alkylphenyl radical, each of said radicals being itself unsubstituted or substituted with a halide or a hydroxide.