NOVEL CATALYTIC PROCESS FOR THE PREPARATION OF POLYHALOHYPOCHLORITES

1,273,408. Fluorine-containing hypochlorites. ALLIED CHEMICAL CORP. 12 Nov., 1969 [21 Nov., 1968], No. 55462/69. Heading C2C. Hypochlorites of formula A(OC1) n wherein n is 1 or 2 and A is an alkyl or alkylene radical in which all the hydrogen atoms have been replaced by halogen atoms or optionally one or two electronegative groups neutral to the hypochlorite group, the carbon atom or atoms bearing the hypochlorite group or groups being attached thereto at least one fluorine atom and, when n is 2, the carbon atoms bearing hypochlorite groups not being directly attached, are prepared by reaction of an inorganic chlorinating agent containing a chlorine atom in a (+1) oxidation state and attached to an oxygen or fluorine atom with a compound containing one or more carbonyl groups not forming part of an aldehyde group in the presence as catalyst of HF, BF 3 , AsF 3 , SbF s , NOF, an NOF treated metal surface or an NOF-treated fluoroolefin polymer surface. Electronegative substituents specified are -SO 2 F, -SO 3 F, -NO 2 , perfluorocycloalkyl and perfluoroaryl groups. Chlorinating agents specified are ClF, Cl 2 O, ClONO 2 , NaOCl and ClOSO 2 F. The NOF-treated metal or fluoroolefin polymer surface may be the wall of the reaction vessel. The products are chlorinating agents, insecticidal fumigants and polymerization initiators.