Abstract: The purpose of this invention is to describe a new process for the manufacture of choroethene (C.sub.2 H.sub.3 Cl). This new process involves the use or ethylene (C.sub.2 H.sub.4) as a feedstock. Highly chlorinated ethenes or methanes are used as chlorinating agents. The corresponding less chlorinated ethenes or methanes are recovered as co-products or recycled to the process to produce additional chloroethene. The distribution of the products may be adjusted so that chloroethene is the major product.

Abstract: The purpose of this invention is to describe a new process for the manufacture of monochloroethane and dichloroethanes which can be decomposed into ethylene (C.sub.2 H.sub.4) and chloroethene (C.sub.2 H.sub.3 Cl), respectively, and recovered as products. This new process uses ethane (C.sub.2 H.sub.6) and chlorinated ethenes or methanes as feedstocks. The distribution of the products may be adjusted so that either ethylene or chloroethene is the major product. The new process can also be used to produce propylene from propane, and butylene from butane.