Reaction of chloroform with ethylene in the presence of the system iron-nucleophilic coinitiator

The nucleophilic coinitiators (NC) chosen were propan-2-o1, hexame-thylphosphorotriamide (HMPA), and dimethylformamide (DMF). The effects of the Fe(CO)/sub 5/-NC system were examined on the reaction over molar ratios of NC:Fe(CO)/sub 5/, 1 to 100. C-13 NMR spectral data for telomers isolated were presented. The system Fe(CO)/sub 5/-DMF is the most active system. In its presence, chloroform reacts with ethylene with high selectivity at the C-Cl bond, with high conversions of the reactants and with yields of the first telomer close to quantitative. The reaction can be used for the preparative, single stage synthesis of 1,1,3-trichloropropane from chloroform and ethylene.