Telomerization of Ethylene with Chloroform Initiated by N-Chloroalkylamines

Abstract N-Chloroalkylamines initiate the telomerization of ethylene with chloroform to give α,α,α-trichloroalkanes CCl3(C2H4)nH(I), which are the same products as those obtained by peroxide-initiated reactions. The N-chloro-alkylamine–iron and N-chloroalkylamine–ferrous chloride systems also initiate the reaction of ethylene with chloroform to afford α,α,ω-trichloroalkanes CHCl2(C2H4)nCl (II) as the main product, and a small amount of I along with other teJomers. The rate of the reaction and the composition of the products vary widely with the kind of N-chloroalkylamine. The reaction mechanism was discussed, a “caged radical” mechanism being proposed for the N-chloroalkylamine-ferrous chloride system.