OF 1,1,1,3-TETRACHLOROPROPANE

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The compound 1,1,3-trichloropropene is useful as a chemical intermediate in the formation of other commercially important compounds. See, for example, U.S. Patent Pub. No. 2012-0142980, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a method to improve the selectivity to the isomeric compounds, 1,1,3-trichloropropene and/or 3,3,3-trichloropropene, by the catalytic dehydrochlorination of 1 , 1 , 1 ,3-tetrachloropropane (HCC-250fb). In normal practice, FeCl ₃ is used as the catalyst for the dehydrochlorination of HCC-250fb to produce these compounds. See, for example, US Patent Pub. No. 2012-0035402, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. It has been discovered that when using only FeCl ₃ as the catalyst for the dehydrochlormation of 250fb, the reaction products often contain significant amounts of unwanted high boiling compounds ("HBCs") such as pentachlorocyclohexene and/or hexachlorocyclohexane species, in addition to the desired products, namely 1,1,3- trichloropropene and/or 3,3,3-trichloropropene. While not wishing to be bound by any theory, it is believed that the formation of these HBCs is due to the dimerization of the desired compounds. The presence of these HBCs reduces the selectivity to the desired products.

Surprisingly, it has been discovered that the addition of one or more UV-stabilizer and/or anti-oxidant compounds to the dehydrochlormation process of a chlorinated alkane can inhibit the formation of unwanted HBCs and improve the selectivity to the target product significantly. Inhibition of HBCs is beneficial to the reduction of process waste and simplifies the separation of the reaction products, and therefore reduces the overall production costs.

The dehydrochlormation reaction is preferably carried out under conditions to attain a starting material HCC-250fb conversion of at least about 20% or higher, preferably at least about 40% or higher, and even more preferably at least about 60% or higher, and a desired product selectivity of at least about 50% or higher, preferably at least about 70% or higher, and more preferably at least about 95% or higher. Selectivity is calculated by the number of moles of product formed divided by the number of moles of reactant consumed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As described above, this invention relates to a method to improve 1,1,3-trichloro- propene (HCC-1240za) and/or 3,3,3-trichloropropene (HCC-1240zf) selectivity in the dehydrochlormation of 1,1,1, 3-tetrachloropropane (HCC-250fb). In normal practice, FeCl ₃ is used as the catalyst for the dehydrochlormation of HCC-250fb to produce 1,1,3- trichloropropene and/or 3,3,3-trichloropropene. The present invention is based on the discovery that when one or more compounds known as UV-stabilizers and/or anti-oxidants is added into a reaction system for the dehydrochlorination of 1,1,1, 3-tetrachloropropane using FeCl ₃ as the

dehydrochlorination catalyst, the selectivity to 1,1,3-trichloropropene was significantly improved. In some embodiments, the selectivity to HBCs was reduced to zero when a sufficient amount of a UV-stabilizer and/or anti-oxidant compound was added into the reaction system. These results demonstrate that UV-stabilizer and/or anti-oxidant compounds are suitable for use as inhibitors to control the formation of HBCs during the catalytic dehydrochlorination of 1,1,1, 3-tetrachloropropane, when using FeCl ₃ as the catalyst.

Applicants believe that all of the known UV-stabilizer and/or anti-oxidant compounds, such as benzophenones, polyphenols, amines, hydroquinones, methoxy- hydroquinones, triethylamines, di-isopropyl amines, butylated hydroxy anisoles (BHA) and thymols and the like, as well as mixtures thereof, can be used to inhibit the formation of HBCs in the catalytic dehydrochlorination process of a chlorinated alkane compound. In the examples which follow, the compounds 2,6-di-tert-butyl-p-cresol (butylated hydroxytoluene or BHT), 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol and 2,6-di-tert-butylphenolwere used. For example, the dehydrochlorination of 1,1,1,2,3-pentachloropropane to produce 1,1,2,3-tetrachloropropene, can be improved to reduce the formation of HBCs, by the addition of one or more of these UV-stabilizer and/or anti-oxidant compounds.

Applicants also believe that, one or more metal halides or mixtures thereof, such as FeCl ₃ and/or FeCl ₂ , can be used as the catalyst for the catalytic dehydrochlorination process of a chlorinated alkane compound, with one or more known UV-stabilizer and/or anti-oxidant compounds, as well as mixtures thereof, added into the system to inhibit the formation of HBCs.

Well known UV-stabilizer and antioxidant compounds include, but not limited to, 2,2-biphenyldiols, 4,4-biphenyldiols, isopropyl-meta cresol , tocophenol, hydroquinone, tert-butyl hydroquinone, 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol , 2,6-di-tert-butylphenol, 2,6-di-tert- butyl-p-cresol, 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol, 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-ethylphenol, 2,4- dimethyl-6-tert-butylphenol, 2,6-di-tert-a-dimethlyamino-p-cresol, 4,4 ' -thiobis(2-methyl- 6-tert-butylphenol), 4,4 ' -thiobis(3-methyl-6-tert-butylphenol), 2,2 ' -thiobis(4-methyl-6- tert-butylphenol), 4,4'-methylenebis(2,6-di-tert-butylphenol), 4,4'-bis(2,6-di-tert- butylphenol), 2,2'-methylenebis(6-tert-butyl-4-ethylphenol), 2,2'-methylenebis(6-tert- butyl-4-methylphenol), , 4,4-butylidenebis(3-methyl-6-tert-butylphenol), 4,4-isopropyl- idenebis(2,6-di-tert-butylphenol), 2,2'-methylenebis(4-methyl-6-nonylphenol), 2,2'- isobutylidenebis(4,6-dimethylphenol), 2,2'-methylenebis(4-methyl-6-cyclohexyl-phenol), 2,2'-ethylidene-bis(4,6-di-tert-butylphenol), 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-(N,N'-dimethyl- aminomethyl)-phenol, 4-allyloxy-2-hydroxybenzophenone, 2-(2H-benzotriazol-2-yl)-4,6- bis( 1 -methyl- 1 -phenylethyl)phenol, 2-(2H-benzotriazol-2-yl)-4,6-di-tert-pentylphenol, 2- (2H-benzotriazol-2-yl)-6-dodecyl-4-methylphenol , 2-[3-(2H-benzotriazol-2-yl)-4- hydroxyphenyl] ethyl methacrylate, 2-(2H-benzotriazol-2-yl)-4-methyl-6-(2- propenyl)phenol, 2-(4-benzoyl-3-hydroxyphenoxy)ethyl acrylate, 3,9-bis(2,4- dicumylphenoxy)-2,4,8,10-tetraoxa-3,9-diphosphaspiro[5.5]und ecane, bis(octadecyl)- hydroxylamine, 3,9-Bis(octadecyloxy)-2,4,8,10-tetraoxa-3,9-diphospha- spiro[5.5]undecane, bis(l-octyloxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidyl) sebacate, bis(2,2,6,6- tetramethyl-4-piperidyl) sebacate, 2-tert-butyl-6-(5-chloro-2H-benzotriazol-2-yl)-4- methylphenol, 2-tert-butyl-4-ethylphenol, 5-chloro-2-hydroxybenzophenone, 5-chloro-2- hydroxy-4-methylbenzophenone, 2,4-di-tert-butyl-6-(5-chloro-2H-benzotriazol-2- yl)phenol , 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-(dimethylaminomethyl)phenol, 3',5'-dichloro-2'- hydroxyacetophenone, didodecyl 3,3'-thiodipropionate, 2,4-dihydroxybenzophenone, 2,2'-dihydroxy-4,4'-dimethoxybenzophenone, 2,2'-dihydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone, 2',4'-Dihydroxy-3'-propylacetophenone, 2,3-dimethylhydroquinone, 2-(4,6-diphenyl- l,3,5-triazin-2-yl)-5-[(hexyl)oxy]-phenol, ditridecyl 3,3'-thiodipropionate, 5-ethyl-l-aza- 3,7-dioxabicyclo[3.3.0]octane, ethyl 2-cyano-3,3-diphenylacrylate, 2-ethylhexyl 2-cyano- 3,3-diphenylacrylate, 2-ethylhexyl trans-4-methoxycinnamate, 2-ethylhexyl salicylate, methyl anthranilate, 2-methoxyhydroquinone, methyl-p-benzoquinone, 2,2'-methylene- bis[6-(2H-benzotriazol-2-yl)-4-(l , 1 ,3,3-tetramethylbutyl)phenol], 5,5'-methylenebis(2- hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone), methylhydroquinone, 4-nitrophenol sodium salt hydrate, octadecyl 3-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propionate, pentaerythritol tetrakis(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyhydrocinnamate), 2-phenyl-5-benzimidazolesulfonic acid, poly[[6-[(l,l,3,3-tetramethylbutyl)amino]-s-triazine-2,4-diy l]-[(2,2,6,6-tetramethyl- 4-piperidyl)imino]-hexamethylene-[(2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-pip eridyl)imino], sodium d- isoascorbate monohydrate, tetrachloro-l,4-benzoquinone, triisodecyl phosphite, 1,3,5- trimethyl-2,4,6-tris(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxybenzyl)benze ne, tris(4-tert-butyl-3- hydroxy-2,6-dimethylbenzyl) isocyanurate, tris(2,4-di-tert-butylphenyl) phosphite, 1,3,5- tris(2-hydroxyethyl)isocyanurate, tris(nonylphenyl) phosphite, and the like.

Example 1 (Comparative Example)

A 500 ml glass flask (reactor) equipped with a magnetic stirring bar and a total condenser was charged with 100.0 g HCC-250f (Honeywell, 99.9 wt%) and 0.026 g FeCl ₃ . The reactor was stirred and heated to 120° ± 2°C via an oil bath. After 2 hours, the reactor was removed from the oil bath and cooled down to room temperature. Then the mixture in the reactor was filtered, washed with deionized (D.I.) water and dried with MgSC^. By GC analysis, the reaction mixture contained 78.2 wt% of 1,1, 3 -trichloropropene, 2.1 wt% of HCC-250fb and 19.7 wt% of HBCs, representing a HCC-250fb conversion of 98.2 mol%, 1,1,3-trichloropropene selectivity of 87.8 mol%, and HBCs selectivity of 12.2 mol%.

Example 2

100.5 g HCC-250f (Honeywell, 99.9 wt%), 0.025 g FeCl ₃ and 0.011 g 2,6-di- tert-butyl-p-cresol (butylated hydroxytoluene or BHT) were charged into the reactor with the same reaction conditions and procedure followed as described in Example 1. By GC analysis, the reaction mixture contained 79.2 wt% of 1,1,3-trichloropropene, 2.1 wt% of HCC-250f and 18.6 wt% of HBCs, representing a HCC-250f conversion of 98.1 mol%, 1,1,3-trichloropropene selectivity of 88.5 mol% and HBCs selectivity of 11.5 mol%.

Example 3 The same apparatus as described in Example 1 was charged with 100.4 g HCC- 250f (Honeywell, 99.9 wt%), 0.026 g FeCl ₃ and 0.026 g BHT. The same reaction conditions and procedure were followed as in Example 1. By GC analysis, the reaction mixture contained 72.7 wt% of 1,1,3-trichloropropene, 24.3 wt% of HCC-250fb and 2.8 wt% of HBCs, representing a HCC-250fb conversion of 79.3 mol%, 1,1,3-trichloropropene selectivity of 98.0 mol% and HBCs selectivity of 2.0 mol%.

Example 4

The same apparatus as described in Example 1 was charged with 100.1 g HCC- 250f (Honeywell, 99.9 wt%), 0.026 g FeCl ₃ and 0.056 g BHT. The same reaction conditions and procedure were followed as in Example 1. By GC analysis, the reaction mixture contained 53.2 wt% of 1,1,3-trichloropropene, 46.1 wt% of HCC-250fb and 0.4 wt% of HBCs, representing a HCC-250fb conversion of 59.3 mol%, 1,1,3-trichloropropene selectivity of 99.5 mol% and HBCs selectivity of 0.4 mol%.

Example 5

The same apparatus as described in Example 1 was charged with 100.4 g HCC- 250f (Honeywell, 99.9 wt%), 0.026 g FeCl ₃ and 0.108 g BHT. The same reaction conditions and procedure were followed as in Example 1. By GC analysis, the reaction mixture contained 20.4 wt% of 1,1,3-trichloropropene and 79.5 wt% of HCC-250fb with no HBCs detected, representing a HCC-250fb conversion of 24.3 mol%, 1,1,3-trichloropropene selectivity of 100.0 mol% and HBCs selectivity of 0.0 mol%.

Example 6

The same apparatus as described in Example 1 was charged with 100.3 g HCC- 250f (Honeywell, 99.9 wt%), 0.029 g FeCl ₃ and 0.079 g 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol. The same reaction conditions and procedure were followed as in Example 1. By GC analysis, the reaction mixture contained 70.8 wt% of 1,1,3-trichloropropene, 26.3 wt% of HCC- 250fb and 2.2 wt% of HBCs, representing a HCC-250fb conversion of 77.7 mol%, 1,1,3- trichloropropene selectivity of 98.3 mol% and HBCs selectivity of 1.7 mol%. Example 7

The same apparatus as described in Example 1 was charged with 100.4 g HCC- 250f (Honeywell, 99.9 wt%), 0.026 g FeCl ₃ and 0.01 g 2,6-di-tert-butylphenol. The same reaction conditions and procedure were followed as in Example 1. By GC analysis, the reaction mixture contained 75.3 wt% of 1,1,3 -trichloropropene, 21.2 wt% of HCC- 250f and 3.3 wt% of HBCs, representing a HCC-250f conversion of 81.9 mol%, 1,1,3- trichloropropene selectivity of 97.7 mol% and HBCs selectivity of 2.3 mol%.

As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" include plural unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Moreover, when an amount, concentration, or other value or parameter is given as either a range, preferred range, or a list of upper preferable values and lower preferable values, this is to be understood as specifically disclosing all ranges formed from any pair of any upper range limit or preferred value and any lower range limit or preferred value, regardless of whether ranges are separately disclosed. Where a range of numerical values is recited herein, unless otherwise stated, the range is intended to include the endpoints thereof, and all integers and fractions within the range. It is not intended that the scope of the invention be limited to the specific values recited when defining a range.

It should be understood that the foregoing description is only illustrative of the present invention. Various alternatives and modifications can be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variances that fall within the scope of the appended claims.

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