Method of manufacture of a hydrofluoroalkane

Abstract

Method of manufacture of a hydrofluoroalkane comprising the use of a Lewis base as stabilizer of the hydrofluoroalkane.

1 . Method of manufacture of a hydrofluoroalkane comprising the use of a Lewis base as stabilizer of the hydrofluoroalkane.  
     
     
         2 . Method according to  claim 1 , in which the Lewis base contains at least one heteroatom.  
     
     
         3 . Method according to  claim 2 , in which the Lewis base is an aliphatic alcohol selected from methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, isopropanol, n-butanol, isobutanol, tert-butanol, the pentanols or ethylene glycol.  
     
     
         4 . Method according to  claim 3 , in which the Lewis base is isopropanol.  
     
     
         5 . Method according to  claim 1 , in which the Lewis base does not form an azeotrope with the hydrofluoroalkane.  
     
     
         6 . Method according to  claim 1 , in which from 1 to 10 000 mg of Lewis base is used per kg of hydrofluoroalkane.  
     
     
         7 . Method according to any one of  claim 1 , in which the hydrofluoroalkane contains at least one Lewis acid.  
     
     
         8 . Method according to  claim 7 , in which the content of Lewis acid in the hydrofluoroalkane is from 0.1 to 500 mg/kg of hydrofluoroalkane.  
     
     
         9 . Method according to  claim 1 , in which the stabilized hydrofluoroalkane is subjected to a temperature from 50 to 200° C.  
     
     
         10 . Method according to  claim 1 , in which the Lewis base is employed during purification of the hydrofluoroalkane.  
     
     
         11 . Method according to  claim 1 , comprising a stage of distillation of a stabilized hydrofluoroalkane.  
     
     
         12 . Method according to  claim 1 , in which the hydrofluoroalkane is selected from the group consisting of 1,1-difluoroethane, 1,1,1-trifluoroethane, 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane, pentafluoroethane, 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane, 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoropropane, 1,1,1,2,3,3,3-heptafluoropropane, 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluorobutane and 1,1,1,2,3,4,4,5,5,5-decafluoropentane.  
     
     
         13 . Method according to  claim 12 , in which the hydrofluoroalkane is selected from the group consisting of 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane and 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluorobutane.  
     
     
         14 . Stabilized hydrofluoroalkane containing from 1 to 500 mg/kg of a Lewis base.  
     
     
         15 . Stabilized hydrofluoroalkane according to  claim 14 , wherein said Lewis base contains isopropanol or ethylene glycol.  
     
     
         16 . Stabilized hydrofluoroalkane according to  claim 14 , selected from 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane and 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluorobutane.  
     
     
         17 . Stabilized hydrofluoroalkane according  claim 14 , comprising at least one Lewis acid.  
     
     
         18 . Stabilized hydrofluoroalkane according to  claim 17 , in which the content of Lewis acid in the hydrofluoroalkane is from 0.1 to 500 mg/kg of hydrofluoroalkane.  
     
     
         19 . Method according to  claim 1 , in which the Lewis base is an alcohol, amine or phosphorus-containing compound.  
     
     
         20 . Method according to  claim 6 , in which the Lewis acid is an iron compound.  
     
     
         21 . Stabilized hydrofluoroalkane according to  claim 17 , in which the Lewis acid is an iron compound.