| abstract |
A liquid phase process is disclosed for producing halogenated alkane adducts of the formula CAR?1R2CBR3R4¿ (where A, B, R?1, R2, R3 and R4¿ are as defined in the specification) which involves contacting a corresponding halogenated alkane, AB, with a corresponding olefin, CR?1R2=CR3R4¿ in a solvent and in the presence of a catalyst system containing (i) at least one catalyst comprising monovalent copper, and (ii) at least one ionic promoter selected from the group consisting of substituted ammonium halides, pyridinium and substituted pyridinium halides, and quaternary salts of the type (MQ¿4?)Y where M is an element of Group VA of the Periodic Table (i.e. N, P, As, Sb, or Bi), Q is a C1-C18 hydrocarbyl group and Y is chloride, bromide or iodide. Production of hydrofluoroalkanes by reacting selected adducts of the type produced above with HF is also disclosed. The process is run in a dinitrile or cyclic carbonate ester as solvent which divides the reaction mixture into two liquid phases. |