SELECTIVE PHOTOCHLORINATION OF 1,1-DICHLOROETHANE WITH IODINE CATALYST

摘要

The invention is a selective process for preparing 1,1,1-trlchloroethane comprising irradiating a vaporous mixture comprising 1,1-dichloroethane, chlorine and a photocatalytic amount of iodine or a compound which liberates iodine in the presence of chlorine with radiation from a light source capable of providing radiation at a wavelength at which a binary intermediate formed from iodine and chlorine absorbs and at which chlorine does not absorb appreciably or has very low absorption, wherein the radiation is capable of inducing the selective formation of 1,1,1-trichloroethane. This process results in a reaction with surprisingly higher selectivity for 1,1,1-trichloroethane.