| abstract |
An improved process for fluorinating chlorofluoro telomers, and particularly telomers of chlorotrifluoroethylene, is disclosed. The process of the present invention comprises reacting the crude telomer with a fluorinating agent in the presence of a catalytic amount of a fluorination catalyst. The fluorinating agent preferably comprises chlorine trifluoride (CIF 3 ) and the fluorination catalyst comprises a transition metal halide selected from the group consisting of halides of iron, nickel, chromium, and mixtures thereof. The process is preferably conducted at a temperature in the range of from about 120°C to about 250°C and continues until the desired degree of fluorination is achieved. |