The invention relates to a process for the preparation of a halogenated 1,3-butadiene by
dehydrohalogenation of a halogenated 1-
butene. Preferably, 2-chloro-1,3-butadiene (CP) is prepared from 3,4-di- chloro-1-
butene (3,4-DBN), or 2,3-dichloro-1,3-butadiene (DCB) is prepared from 2,3,4-trichloro-1-
butene (TCB). The
dehydrohalogenation is performed in the presence of an
organic base, preferably selected from (i) non-polymeric organic bases and (ii) polymeric organic bases. Upon
dehydrohalogenation of the halogenated 1-butene, the
organic base preferably provides an organic
halide salt, namely (i) a low melting organic
halide salt, which is an
ionic liquid; or (ii) a polymeric organic
halide salt. Preferably, halogenated 1,3-butadiene is separated from the reaction mixture by in-situ
distillation.
Organic base is preferably recovered from (i) the low melting organic halide salt by e.g. heating and release of hydrohalogenic acid; or from (ii) the polymeric organic halide salt by e.g. reconversion of polymeric organic halide salt into polymeric
organic base and an inorganic halide salt, and size-based separation of the inorganic halide salt, preferably by
filtration, more preferably selected from
microfiltration,
ultrafiltration and
nanofiltration, still more preferably by
nanofiltration. After purification, recovered organic base is preferably recycled into the process.