Patents by Inventor Michael J. Fifolt

Michael J. Fifolt has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6303812
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of isolating the aromatic product formed when a substrate having the general formula is dehalogenated, forming a product mixture of copper salts and aromatic product, where X is the halogen removed from the substrate to form the aromatic product, R′ is COOH, COOR, COR, CN, COH(R)2, or SO3H, each R″ is independently selected from halogen, R, or OR or two vicinal R″ groups form one or more fused aromatic rings, R is alkyl from C1 to C18 or aryl from C6 to C18, and n is 1 to 4. Water in an amount about 1 to about 5 times the amount of the substrate is added to the product mixture, forming an organic phase that contains the aromatic product and an aqueous phase that contains the copper salts. If the density of the organic phase differs from the density of said aqueous phase by less than 0.1 g/cc, a suitable solvent is added to the product mixture in an amount sufficient to increase the differences between the organic and aqueous phases to at least 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Occidental Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Fifolt, Michael C. Savidakis, Ronald Spohn, Daniel R. Thielen, William S. Derwin, David C. Johnson
  • Patent number: 6284934
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of separating the meta isomer of a haloalkylbenzene having the general formula from a mixture with at least one other isomer, where X is Cl or Br and R is alkyl from C2 to C12 or cycloalkyl from C3 to C8. About 0.0001 to about 5 wt % of a Friedel-Crafts catalyst is added to the mixture and the mixture is exposed to a brominating agent which preferentially brominates the meta isomer. The mixture is then heated at a temperature above the boiling point of the other isomers but below the boiling point of the brominated meta isomer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: Occidental Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Fifolt, William S. Derwin, Viesturs Lesins, Arthur H. Morth, Frank P. Bermel, David Y. Tang, Mark E. Lindrose, William L. Rueter
  • Patent number: 6225514
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of halogenating the ring of an aromatic compound. The aromatic compound is contacted with a halogenating agent in the presence of a heterogeneous catalyst. The catalyst is the calcination reaction product of: (A) 51 to 99 wt % of a support which comprises at least one inorganic oxide or hydroxide of at least one metal that is at least divalent and forms a metal-to-oxygen matrix during calcination; and (B) 1 to 49 wt % of at least one dopant which comprises a compound that places an element that is at least divalent, bonded to oxygen atoms, into said matrix during said calcination, resulting in the formation of an acidic solid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Occidental Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Charles M. Cook, Michael C. Hausladen, Michael C. Savidakis, Michael J. Fifolt
  • Patent number: 6201152
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of making 3,5-dichloro-p-toluoyl chloride. A mixture is prepared of methyl-3,5-dichloro-4-methylbenzoate, about 1 to about 1.4 equivalents of an &agr;,&agr;,&agr;-trichloromethylbenzene, and about 0.01 to about 0.2 equivalents of a catalyst selected from the group consisting of ammonium septamolybdate, ammonium dimolybdate, and mixtures thereof. The mixture is heated to a temperature of about 150 to about 180° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Occidental Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Fifolt, Sanjay Mandal, William S. Derwin
  • Patent number: 6124512
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of halogenating the ring of an aromatic compound. The aromatic compound is contacted with a halogenating agent in the presence of a heterogeneous catalyst. The catalyst is the calcination reaction product of:(A) 51 to 99 wt % of a support which comprises at least one inorganic oxide or hydroxide of at least one metal that is at least divalent and forms a metal-to-oxygen matrix during calcination; and(B) 1 to 49 wt % of at least one dopant which comprises a compound that places an element that is at least divalent, bonded to oxygen atoms, into said matrix during said calcination, resulting in the formation of an acidic solid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2000
    Assignee: Occidental Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Charles M. Cook, Michael C. Hausladen, Michael C. Savidakis, Michael J. Fifolt
  • Patent number: 6118018
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of adding 1 to 4 chlorine or bromine atoms to an aromatic ring of compound that has at least one electron-withdrawing groups on that ring. The aromatic compound is reacted with a chlorinating agent or a brominating agent in the presence of about 0.1 to about 10 mole % of a Lewis acid catalyst and about 0.001 to about 0.1 equivalents of an iodine-containing cocatalyst at a temperature of ambient to about 100.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: Occidental Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Michael C. Savidakis, Michael J. Fifolt, Daniel R. Thielen, Ronald Spohn, David C. Johnson, William S. Derwin
  • Patent number: 6117278
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for making high purity .alpha.-chloroxylenes. A composition is formed of about 15 to about 80 wt % of a xylene and about 20 to about 85 wt % of a solvent. The solvent can be toluene, ring halogenated toluene, benzotrichloride, ring halogenated benzotrichloride, benzotrifluoride, ring halogenated benzotrifluoride, .alpha.,.alpha.,.alpha.,.alpha.',.alpha.',.alpha.'-hexafluorometaxylene, .alpha.,.alpha.,.alpha.,.alpha.',.alpha.',.alpha.'-hexafluoroparaxylene, or a mixture thereof. The composition is heated to about 70 to about 160.degree. C. No base is present in the composition. Chlorine gas is sparged through the composition and chlorine free radicals are generated therein. The chlorine free radicals can be generated either with UV light or by means of a chlorine free radical initiator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: Occidental Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Sanjay Mandal, Kevin R. Benson, Michael J. Fifolt, John Hickey, James Franc, George Piotrowski, William S. Derwin
  • Patent number: 6118028
    Abstract: Disclosed is a process for making an .alpha.,.alpha.,.alpha.-trifluoromethoxybenzene by reacting an .alpha.,.alpha.,.alpha.-trichloromethoxybenzene or an .alpha.,.alpha.,.alpha.-tribromomethoxybenzene with gaseous hydrogen fluoride in the presence of a catalyst of antimony pentachloride, molybdenum pentachloride, molybdenum dichloride dioxide, molybdenum oxide, or a mixture thereof. The hydrogen fluoride is used in an amount of about 1 to about 1.4 times stoichiometric and is at about atmospheric pressure. The reaction is performed at about 30 to about 100.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: Occidental Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin R. Benson, John Hickey, William S. Derwin, Michael J. Fifolt, Sanjay Mandal
  • Patent number: 4808760
    Abstract: Telomers are prepared by reacting chlorotrifluoroethylene with 1,2-dibromo-2-chlorotrifluoroethane (CBrClFCF.sub.2 Br) in the presence of a redox catalyst system comprising a metal halide selected from the group consisting of FeCl.sub.3, FeBr.sub.3, CuBr.sub.2, CuCl.sub.2, TiCl.sub.4, VCl.sub.3, and NiCl.sub.2, and a reducing agent selected from the group consisting of Fe, Ni, Cu, Ti, V and benzoin. The preferred catalyst system is ferric chloride and nickel. The telomers of this invention have the structural formula ##STR1## where n is in the range of 1 to 10, and are useful for preparing non-flammable hydraulic fluids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1989
    Assignee: Occidental Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Bobby F. Dannels, Michael J. Fifolt, David Y. Tang
  • Patent number: 4766243
    Abstract: A process for the electrophilic ring fluorination of aromatic compounds which comprises reacting a fluorinating agent from the group consisting of CF.sub.3 OF and CF.sub.2 (OF).sub.2 with an aromatic compound of the formula ##STR1## where X is selected from the group consisting of ##STR2## and ##STR3## and Y is selected from the group consisting of --H, --CF.sub.3, --CN, --NO.sub.2, --Cl, and CH.sub.3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1984
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1988
    Assignee: Occidental Chemical Corporation
    Inventor: Michael J. Fifolt
  • Patent number: 4596664
    Abstract: Non-flammable hydraulic fluids which are particularly useful for replacing existing hydraulic fluids in hydraulic systems employing acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber and fluoroelastomer seals are disclosed. The non-flammable hydraulic fluids of the present invention comprise a fluorinated chlorotrifluoroethylene oil, a refined naphthenic oil, a phenolic antioxidant, a sulfur corrosion inhibitor, a metal deactivator, and an aliphatic ester. The fluorinated chlorotrifluoroethylene oil is present in an amount of at least about 75% by volume of the hydraulic fluid. In addition to being non-flammable, such hydraulic fluids are compatible with both the seals and brass components which contact the hydraulic fluid in hydraulic systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 24, 1986
    Assignee: Occidental Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Fifolt, John Forcucci
  • Patent number: 4577044
    Abstract: Telomers formed by reacting chlorotrifluoroethylene with fluoroxytrifluoromethane are disclosed. The telomerization reaction is conducted in either liquid chlorotrifluoroethylene without a solvent or in solution. The telomers thus formed can optionally be fluorinated by reaction with a suitable fluorinating agent to improve their stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1986
    Assignee: Occidental Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Donald H. Campbell, Michael J. Fifolt, Mohan S. Saran
  • Patent number: 4533762
    Abstract: A telomerization process comprises reacting chlorotrifluoroethylene with bisfluoroxydifluoromethane. The telomerization reaction is conducted in either liquid chlorotrifluoroethylene without a solvent or in solution. The telomers thus formed can optionally be fluorinated by reaction with a suitable fluorinating agent to improve their stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1983
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1985
    Assignee: Occidental Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Donald H. Campbell, Michael J. Fifolt, Mohan S. Saran
  • Patent number: 4528109
    Abstract: Non-flammable hydraulic fluids which are particularly useful for replacing existing hydraulic fluids in hydraulic systems employing acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber and Viton or PNF seals are disclosed. The non-flammable hydraulic fluids of the present invention comprise a fluorinated chlorotrifluoroethylene oil, an aliphatic ester, a liquid polyester or polyether, a hydrocarbon oil having a low wax content, and a phenolic antioxidant. The chlorotrifluoroethylene oil is present in an amount of at least about 75% by volume of the hydraulic fluid. Such hydraulic fluids are useful in applications where the flammability of existing fluids poses a significant risk of combustion or explosion due to the possibility of leakage of the fluid from the hydraulic system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1983
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1985
    Assignee: Occidental Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Fifolt, John Forcucci
  • Patent number: 4521616
    Abstract: A process for the preparation of fluoroanthranilic acid compounds comprises(A) reacting ammonium fluorophthalamate or a fluorophthalamic acid of the formula ##STR1## where n is 1 or 2, with an alkali or alkaline earth metal hypochlorite to form the corresponding fluoroanthranilic acid of the formula ##STR2## where n is as previously defined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1980
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1985
    Assignee: Occidental Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Fifolt, Arthur M. Foster
  • Patent number: 4499024
    Abstract: Bisfluoroxydifluoromethane is prepared by the continuous reaction of carbon dioxide and fluorine in the presence of a cesium fluoride catalyst. The reaction is preferably conducted at a temperature in the range of from about -50.degree. C. to about 200.degree. C. and a mole ratio of CO.sub.2 :F.sub.2 in the range of from about 0.2 to about 0.95.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1983
    Date of Patent: February 12, 1985
    Assignee: Occidental Chemical Corporation
    Inventor: Michael J. Fifolt
  • Patent number: 4391991
    Abstract: Para-fluoroaniline is prepared by reaction of N-phenylhydroxylamine with anhydrous hydrogen fluoride at atmospheric pressure and reflux conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1983
    Assignee: Occidental Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Rudolph F. Mundhenke, Michael J. Fifolt
  • Patent number: 4374266
    Abstract: Ammonium salts of fluorophthalamic acids characterized by the formula ##STR1## wherein n is 1 or 2, are prepared by the steps of (A) reacting a chlorophthalic anhydride of the formula ##STR2## where n is as defined previously, with potassium fluoride or cesium fluoride to form a fluorophthalic anhydride of the formula ##STR3## where n is as previously defined, and (B) reacting the fluorophthalic anhydride with ammonium to form an ammonium salt of a fluorophthalamic acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1980
    Date of Patent: February 15, 1983
    Assignee: Occidental Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Fifolt, Arthur M. Foster
  • Patent number: 4374267
    Abstract: Fluorophthalamic acids characterized by the formula ##STR1## wherein n is 1 or 2, are prepared by the steps of(A) reacting a chlorophthalic anhydride of the formula ##STR2## where n is as defined previously, with potassium fluoride or cesium fluoride to form a fluorophthalic anhydride of the formula ##STR3## where n is as previously defined, and (B) reacting the fluorophthalic anhydride with ammonia to form an ammonium salt of a fluorophthalamic acid, and(C) acidifying the ammonium salt to form a fluorophthalamic acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1980
    Date of Patent: February 15, 1983
    Assignee: Occidental Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Fifolt, Arthur M. Foster
  • Patent number: 4361521
    Abstract: A novel fluorinated aromatic compound, 4,5-difluorophthaloyl fluoride, is prepared by reacting 4,5-dichlorophthalic anhydride with a stoichiometric excess of potassium fluoride.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1981
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1982
    Assignee: Occidental Chemical Corporation
    Inventor: Michael J. Fifolt