Abstract: The invention provides a novel continuous process for concurrently producing methyl chloride and organosiloxanes by the reaction of an organochlorosilane and methyl alcohol in an aqueous reaction medium at 70.degree. to 150.degree. C. Different from conventional processes, the aqueous reaction medium contains no catalyst so that the problems inherent to the use of a large amount of a catalyst can be avoided. In the inventive process, the feed rates of the reactants are controlled so as to keep the concentration of hydrogen chloride in the aqueous reaction medium not to exceed the azeotropic concentration thereof at the temperature and under the pressure of operation. These conditions are critical to reduce the loss of hydrogen chloride by dissipation into the gaseous phase resulting in a remarkably high yield of methyl chloride from the standpoint of both the conversion of chlorine content and the space-time yield of the reaction vessel.

Abstract: A process for preparing methyl chloride by reacting hydrogen chloride with methanol in the liquid-phase non-catalytic reaction, employing a reaction system comprising a reactor and two distillation columns, each being operated under a different pressure, to greatly increase the space time yield and the conversion of hydrogen chloride and methanol, and at the same time to reduce the production of dimethyl ether as a byproduct. The raw materials used may be either gaseous or liquid; they may contain a large amount of water or gases insoluble in water. By this process, hydrogen chloride gas and diluted hydrochloric acid that are produced as a byproduct or waste in various chemical processes can be effectively utilized.