Abstract: A more efficient reaction mechanism is provided for producing 1,1-dichloro-1-fluoroethane (HCFC-141b) by reacting vinylidene chloride with hydrogen fluoride in the liquid phase in the presence of a catalyst and sulfone-based or nitrated solvent. In particular, by using a titanium tetrafluoride catalyst in conjunction with tetramethylene sulfone solvent, most all the vinylidene chloride reagent can be converted to HCFC-141b to the virtual exclusion of unwanted, closely associated byproducts like 1,1-difluoro-1-chloroethane (HCFC-142b) 1,1,1-trifluoroethane (HFC-143a), while reducing the production of tars to a minimum.

Abstract: A calcined and shaped alumina, exhibiting a stabilized, high pore volume and a low surace area together with high strength, is made from an alumina, such as pseudoboehmite or chi-rho-eta alumina or mixtures of different alumina species. The stabilized product exhibits a total porosity of at least about 0.4 cc/g, a surface area within the range of about 2-20 m.sup.2 /g. The porosity is stabilized by treatment of the alumina, prior to calcination, with a combination of silica and an inorganic fluoride. The stabilized alumina product can be readily utilized as an adsorbent or a catalyst support, particularly in applications where the catalyst is subjected to high temperatures.

Abstract: A novel catalyst is prepared by codepositing hexavalent chromium oxide and a transition metal compound, preferably titanium trichloride, on alumina, followed by fluorinating the resulting combination. The catalyst is useful in the fluorination of a haloethylene of the formula CX.sub.2 .dbd.CHX (where the X's are chlorine or bromine or a combination of the two) in the vapor phase to form 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane.