Abstract: In the reaction of carbon tetrachloride with ethylene in the presence of a catalyst comprising a phosphite ester and an iron-containing material to produce 1,1,1,3-tetrachloropropane, the improvement which comprises employing powdered iron as the iron-containing material. Thereby the carbon tetrachloride is converted in large amount and with high selectivity to the desired product. The reaction proceeds well even under milder conditions than with the catalysts of the prior art.