US Patent 7361790 Process for preparing 1,3-dichloroacetone

Epichlorohydrin is produced from acetone by (1) chlorinating acetone to form monochloroacetone; (2) disproportionating the monochloroacetone in the presence of a platinum catalyst, a strong acid and preferably a chloride source (for example, added as a salt or from hydrolysis of monochloroacetone) and some water to produce acetone and 1,3-dichloroacetone; (3) hydrogenating the 1,3-dichloroacetone in the presence of a catalyst to produce 1,3-dichlorohydrin; and (4) cyclizing the 1,3-dichlorohydrin with a base to produce epichlorohydrin.