The Telomerization Reaction of Ethylene with Carbon Tetrachloride Initiated by Zinc Powder

It was found that the metal powder and metal salt catalyst system can initiate the telomerization reaction. The telomerization reaction of ethylene with carbon tetrachloride under ethylene pressures by batchwise system using the catalyst with tin and lithium chloride was studied.The reaction rate was accelerated by addition of tert-butanol ranging from 5 to 10 vol % of carbon tetrachloride in those catalyst systems. The extent of conversion of carbon tetrachloride were about 80 % under the favorable reaction condition where 5 g/l of tin and 0.5 g/l of lithium chloride were used and the reaction was carried out in a temperature range from 70 to 90deg; C for 4 hours.The reaction rate by the present catalyst system was larger than that by other general radical initiator such as α-α' azobisisobutyronitrile or benzoyl peroxide and long life of catalytic activity was obtained.