Abstract: Hydrogen fluoride adducts and ammonium fluorides are used for fluorinating acid chlorides and halocarbon compounds such as chloroalkanes or chloronated ethers. The used adducts can be regenerated and then reused in the fluorination reactions.

Abstract: Carboxylic acid fluorides having a boiling point of preferably less than 100° C. are suitable for use as pesticides. Acetyl fluoride is highly suitable, and Chlorodifluoroacetyl fluoride and trifluoroacetyl fluoride are also very useful. Mixtures of carboxylic acid fluoride pesticides and other pesticides are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for producing carboxylic acid fluorides of the formula RCFXC(O)F, where X represents fluorine or chlorine, in good yields and with good selectivity for the carboxylic acid fluorides by reacting compounds of the formula RCFXCHFCl with oxygen by photochemical oxidation in the gaseous phase, preferably under sensitization with chlorine and using light having a wavelength &lgr;≧280 nm, which conditions make it possible to work without the use of pressure. Glass apparatus may be covered with a protective coating so as to protect it against traces of hydrogen fluoride. To this end, for example, heat-shrinkable sleeves made of light-permeable hydrogen fluoride-resistant material may be used. Polytetrafluoroethylene, polyfluoropropylene or a mixture thereof are especially suitable for this purpose.

Abstract: Hydrogen fluoride adducts and ammonium fluorides are used for fluorinating acid chlorides and halocarbon compounds such as chloroalkanes or chloronated ethers. The used adducts can be regenerated and then reused in the fluorination reactions.

Abstract: A process for preparing purified, saturated, partially fluorinated or perfluorinated hydrocarbon compounds from crude products which are contaminated with impurity compounds which absorb light at a wavelength of &lgr;>200 nm by irradiating the crude product with UV radiation of a wavelength of &lgr;>200 nm and thereafter recovering highly pure, partially fluorinated or perfluorinated hydrocarbon compounds from the irradiated reaction product, for example, by simple vacuum distillation.

Abstract: A method of producing alkanes containing chlorine by addition of chlorine to C—C double bonds or C—C triple bonds or by exchange of hydrogen for chlorine by contacting the starting compound in the gas or liquid phase with elemental chlorine and irradiating the reaction mixture with UV light having a wavelength of &lgr;≧280 nm. In this way pentachloroethane can be produced from trichloroethylene, CFC-113 from HCFC-123 or HFC-133a, CFC-112a from HCFC-142b, or HCFC-123 from HCFC-133a. The method also is suitable for separating photochlorinatable impurities from HFC-365-mfc to obtain purified HFC-365-mfc. Advantages include high yields and excellent selectivity.

Abstract: Lower alkyl esters of 3-amino crotonates substituted by halogen in the C-4 position, e.g. ethyl 3-amino-4,4,4-trifluoro-crotonate, in which the amino group optionally may be substituted by one or two C1 to C3 alkyl groups or by one or two aryl groups, e.g. phenyl, are synthesized by thermolysis of ammonium salts of corresponding lower alkyl esters of acetoacetic acid substituted in the C-4 position by halogen, and removal of the resulting water of reaction. The water of reaction may be removed by an entraining agent, which preferably has a specific gravity heavier than that of the aqueous phase which forms in the reaction. This minimizes yield losses due to the ammonium salt becoming dissolved in the aqueous phase and results in especially high yields. Formation of the ammonium salt and thermolysis can be carried out simultaneously. Alternatively, it is possible to start from a molten ammonium salt of the halogencrotonate, e.g.

Abstract: Organic compounds, e.g. fluorinated organic compounds such as fluorinated carboxylic acids or fluorinated carboxylic acid chlorides, may contain small amounts of carboxylic acid fluorides, hydrogen fluoride or hydrolyzable fluoride, which during the preparation of derivatives of the fluorinated organic compounds, for example by esterification, may yield corrosive fluorides or hydrogen fluoride. The invention is a method for the synthesis and/or purification of preferably fluorinated organic compounds such as carboxylic acids, carboxylic acid chlorides and derivatives such as esters thereof, starting from corresponding carboxylic acid chlorides containing acid fluorides or hydrolyzable fluoride, and alcohols under the catalytic action of “onium” salts of carboxylic acids, to obtain products which have a low fluoride content. Alternatively, an inorganic oxide adsorbent is utilized.

Abstract: A process for preparing chlorodifluoroacetyl chloride from 1,1-difluoro-2,2-dichloroethylene and dichloroacetyl chloride from trichloroethylene or 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane, in which the starting compounds are continuously reacted in the gaseous phase with oxygen to obtain a photochemical oxidation reaction, chlorine being added as a sensitizer, the reaction mixture being irradiated with light having a wavelength .lambda..gtoreq.280 nm, the reaction preferably being carried out unpressurized. Particularly high yields with height selectivity are achieved by using doped high pressure mercury vapor lamps to irradiate the reaction mixture.

Abstract: The addition of hydrogen fluoride to unsaturated C--C groups and the chlorine-fluorine exchange on perhalogenated carbon atoms can be advantageously catalyzed by a catalyst mixture which comprises at least partially fluorinated titanium halide in combination with tin (IV) halide.

Abstract: A process for preparing polyfluorochloro- and perfluorocarbonyl chlorides, for example for preparing perfluoropropionyl chloride, chlorodifluoroacetyl chloride or trifluoroacetyl chloride, in which starting materials are employed which have a CHCl.sub.2 group which is converted to a C(O)Cl group by photochemical oxidation with oxygen in the presence of added elemental chlorine and under exposure to activating irradiation by light having a wavelength .lambda..gtoreq.290 nm. The procedure is preferably unpressurized. Outstanding conversions with high selectivity are achieved using doped Hg light sources.

Abstract: A process for preparing compounds corresponding to the formula RCFXC(O)Cl, in which X is fluorine or chlorine and R is fluorine or a perfluorinated C1- C10-alkyl group, preferably chlorodifluoroacetyl chloride, by photochemical oxidation of R122 (CF.sub.2 ClCHCl.sub.2) and the preparation of trifluoroacetyl chloride by photochemical oxidation of R123 (CF.sub.3 CHCl.sub.2) with oxygen under irradiation. The reaction is preferably carried out without pressurization and without addition of elemental chlorine.

Abstract: A process for preparing carboxylic acid halides and carboxylate salts by reacting metal or "onium" halides with carboxylic anhydrides, which process is very suitable for working-up anhydrous, spent catalyst preparations. The resulting carboxylic acid halide or carboxylate salt can be used as an acylating reagent or alkylating reagent, and metal halide or "onium" halide liberated during this can be reacted anew with carboxylic anhydride and regenerated, thereby making it possible to effect a hydrolysis-free alkylation or acylation without forming salt-type waste products. If the mixture of carboxylic acid halide and carboxylate salt is allowed to react with an alcohol, preferably in situ, the resulting ester can be isolated without hydrolysis.

Abstract: A process for preparing ketones, for example CF.sub.3 C(O)CH.sub.3, CF.sub.3 C(O)CH.sub.2 C(O)CF.sub.3 and CF.sub.3 C(O)CF.sub.2 H, in which .beta.-ketoesters are transesterified and decarboxylated using a carboxylic acid, for example trifluoroacetic acid, in the presence of a catalyst, particularly an "onium" salt of a carboxylic acid or an effective amount of a proton-donating acid, preferably a sulfonic acid such as alkyl- or arylsulfonic acids, or a mineral acid. The process is advantageously carried out in the absence of water, so that no formation of acetals or hydrates occurs, and no dehydrating step is needed. The process is simple to carry out, and if transesterification is carried out with a sufficiently active carboxylic acid, for example with trifluoroacetic acid, the presence of an additional catalyst is unnecessary.

Abstract: A process for preparing carboxylic esters from carboxylic acid halides or carboxylic anhydrides by reacting one of these starting materials with an alcohol under the catalytic action of "onium" or metal salts of carboxylic acids to obtain high yields of products in anhydrous form in a technically simple manner. The process is especially well suited for preparing 1,1,1-trifluoroethyl trifluoroacetate.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane by reaction of hydrogen fluoride with a trihaloethylene according to which trifluoroethylene is chosen as trihaloethylene and the reaction is carried out in the liquid phase.