Gas-phase reaction of CCl₂F₂ (CFC-12) with methane

Gas-phase reaction of CFC-12 (CCl₂F₂) with methane was carried out in a plug flow reactor over the temperature range of 873-1123 K. The major organic halocarbons formed during the reaction were C ₂F₄, C₂H₂F₂, CHClF ₂, CH₃Cl, C₃H₂F₆ and CCl₃F. The formation of all products except C₂H ₂F₂ decreased with temperature, while the selectivity to C₂H₂F₂ (difluoroethylene) increased with temperature and reached ≈80% at 1123 K. Under these reaction conditions, methane acts as hydrogen and carbon source, resulting in the formation of an unsaturated C₂ hydrofluorocarbon from two C₁ precursors.