OXYCHLORINATION OF ETHYLENE AT HIGH TEMPERATURES

The mechanism of ethylene oxychlorination to vinyl chloride (VCl) at 500-550° with an iron oxide containing catalyst has been established by deuterium labeling experiments. The data are consistent with a mechanism involving 1,2-dichloroethane (DCE) as the VCl precursor. The 2-chloroethyl radical or cation intermediate may directly contribute to VC1 formation if certain kinetic requirements are satisfied, but neither direct substitution on ethylene via a vinyl radical nor any mechanism involving ethyl chloride contributes significantly. © 1969, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.