Process for making 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene and/or vinylidine fluoride

A process for the formation of a mixture of the compounds 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (1234yf) and vinylidene fluoride, comprising pyrolyzing 1,1,2-trifluoro-2-trifluoro-methyl-cyclobutane under conditions effective to produce a reaction product comprising 1234yf and vinylidene fluoride in a 1234yf:vinylidene fluoride molar ratio of from about 0.5 to about 1.2;

• wherein the pyrolysis provides a yield in the range of about 80% to about 90%.

A process for the formation of a mixture of the compounds 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (1234yf) and vinylidene fluoride, comprising pyrolyzing 1,1,2-trifluoro-2-trifluoro-methyl-cyclobutane under conditions effective to produce a reaction product comprising 1234yf and vinylidene fluoride in a 1234yf:vinylidene fluoride molar ratio of from about 0.5 to about 1.2;

• the process further comprising the step of forming the compound 1,1,2-trifluoro-2-trifluoromethyl-cyclobutane (TFMCB) by the thermal dimerization a mixture of hexafluoro-propene (HFP) and a stoichiometric excess of ethylene, in the presence of a polymerization or oligomerization inhibitor;
• and
• wherein the TFMCB has a purity greater than 92%.