PROCESSES FOR MAKING ALKYL HALIDES

摘要

The invention is directed to processes for producing an alkyl halide, preferably isobutyl bromide. In one embodiment, the process comprises the steps of: (a) contacting an alcohol with a hydrogen halide in a reactor at elevated temperature under conditions effective to form an initial product mixture comprising the alkyl halide, the alcohol, the hydrogen halide and water; (b) cooling the initial product mixture to form a cooled organic phase positioned above a cooled aqueous phase; (c) separating the cooled organic phase from the cooled aqueous phase. The process preferably further comprises a step of: (d) heating at least a portion of the cooled aqueous phase under conditions effective to form additional alkyl halide.