Process for converting chlorodifluoromethane and/or dichlorodifluoromethane

A process for the conversion of halogenated methanes of the formula CCl.sub.y H.sub.2-y F.sub.2, wherein y is 1 or 2 to produce C.sub.2 H.sub.2 F.sub.4 therefrom comprising:

• feeding (i) at least one reactant consisting essentially of said halogenated methanes and optionally at least one additional halogenated hydrocarbon of the formula C.sub.n H.sub.m F.sub.p X.sub.q wherein each X is independently selected from chlorine and bromine, n is an integer from 1 to 3, m is an integer from 0 to 7, p is an integer from 0 to 7 and q is an integer from 1 to 7, and wherein said halogenated methanes are at least 1 mole percent of the total of said halogenated hydrocarbons and said halogenated methanes, and (ii) at least 2 moles of hydrogen per total moles of carbon-chlorine and carbon-bromine bonds in said halogenated hydrocarbons and said halogenated methanes, to a reaction vessel of alumina, silicon carbide or at least one metal selected from the group consisting of gold, chromium, aluminum, molybdenum, titanium, nickel, iron, cobalt, and their alloys;
• and
• reacting said feed in said reaction vessel at a temperature of from about 500.degree. C. to 800.degree. C. and a pressure of from about 101 kPa to 7000 kPa to produce a mixture of conversion products of said halogenated methanes which comprises at least 5 mole percent C.sub.2 H.sub.2 F.sub.4, wherein the mole ratio of CH.sub.2 FCF.sub.3 to CHF.sub.2 CHF.sub.2 in said C.sub.2 H.sub.2 F.sub.4 is at least about 1:9.