Abstract: Process for the preparation of alkyl chlorides, characterized in that:a) in a first stage a primary mono- or polyhydric alcohol, which has a C.sub.4 -C.sub.30 carbon chain which is saturated, substituted or otherwise by one or more chlorine atoms and branched or otherwise and which may comprise one or more C.sub.5 -C.sub.7 cycloalkyl groups, is reacted with gaseous hydrochloric acid in the absence of catalyst and at a temperature of between 80.degree. C. and 170.degree. C., until the degree of conversion of the alcohol functional groups is equal to or between 60 and 95 mol %, andb) in a second stage phosgene and a catalyst are introduced into the reaction mixture, the catalyst being chosen from the group consisting of hexaalkylguanidinium halides and their hydrohalides, quaternary ammonium halides, quaternary phosphonium halites, pyridine and pyridines substituted by one or more C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl groups, at a temperature of between 80.degree. C. and 160.degree.C.