Abstract: 1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane, a refrigerant, is formed with little formation of isomers or chlorofluoroethanes having not very different boiling points by reacting 1,1-dichloro-1,2,2,2-tetrafluoroethane (R-114a), which may contain up to about 25 wt% of 1,2-dichloro-1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethane (R-114), with hydrogen gas in the presence of a palladium-on-active alumina catalyst at a temperature lower than 200.degree. C. and not lower than 120.degree. C. R-114a almost free of R-114 is obtained by reacting 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2,2-trifluoroethane with hydrogen fluoride in vapor phase in the presence of a catalyst prepared by partially fluorinating .gamma.-alumina by treatment with hydrogen fluoride gas.

Abstract: A group of polyfluoroaldehydes represented by 3,3,3-trifluoropropanal can be formed with very good selectivity by reacting polyfluoroalkenes represented by 3,3,3-trifluoropropene with water in the presence of a source of divalent palladium. A group of polyfluoroacetals represented by 1,1-dialkoxy-3,3,3-trifluoropropane can be formed with very good selectivity by reacting the same polyfluoroalkenes with an alcohol in the presence of a source of divalent palladium.