Process for the manufacture of fluoroolefins

A process for producing a perfluoroolefin of the formula CF(R1f)═CF2 wherein R1f is F, comprising:

• (a) perfluorinating a cyclobutane starting material of the formula
• wherein R2f is CF3 and each R1 is H, by the Simons electrochemical fluorination process in an electrochemical cell in a solution of anhydrous liquid hydrogen fluoride under temperature and pressure conditions sufficient to replace all hydrogens in the cyclobutane starting material with fluorine;
• (b) cracking the perfluorinated cyclobutane produced in (a) to produce said CF(R1f)═CF2 product and a perfluoroolefin of the formula CF(R2f)═CF2;
• and
• (c) reacting at least a portion of the hexafluoropropylene produced in (b) with CH2═CH2 to produce further cyclobutane starting material.

A process for producing a perfluoroolefin of the formula CF(R1f)═CF2 wherein R1f is CF3, comprising:

• (a) perfluorinating a cyclobutane starting material of the formula
• wherein R2f is CF3, one R1 is H and the other R1 is CH3, by the Simons electrochemical fluorination process in an electrochemical cell in a solution of anhydrous liquid hydrogen fluoride under temperature and pressure conditions sufficient to replace all hydrogens in the cyclobutane starting material with fluorine;
• (b) cracking the perfluorinated cyclobutane produced in (a) to produce said CF(R1f)═CF2 product and a perfluoroolefin of the formula CF(R2f)═CF2;
• and
• (c) reacting at least a portion of the hexafluoropropylene produced in (b) with CH2═CHCH3 to produce further cyclobutane starting material.