Inventors:
Richard M. Minday - Stillwater MN
Thomas M. Barrett - Prescott WI
Charles F. Kolpin - River Falls WI
John C. Smeltzer - Woodbury MN
Assignee:
Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company - St. Paul MN
International Classification:
C25B 308
Abstract:
A process for preparing fluorochemical compounds, e. g. , perfluoroalkanes, perfluoroethers, and perfluoroalkyl tertiary amines, comprises (a) forming a mixture comprising at least one fluorinatable, non-functional organic starting compound, e. g. , propane, and at least one other compound which is present in an amount sufficient to enable the formation of a fluorochemical phase and which is selected from the group consisting of (i) perfluorochemical compounds, e. g. , perfluorohexane, which boil at a higher temperature than either the fluorinatable, non-functional organic starting compound or the fluorochemical compound resulting from the subsequent fluorination of the fluorinatable, non-functional organic starting compound; and (ii) precursor compounds, e. g. , hexane, which can be fluorinated in situ to produce such perfluorochemical compounds; and (b) subjecting the mixture to electrochemical fluorination in the presence of anhydrous hydrogen fluoride.