A process for preparing 1,3-dibromoacetone, 1-3-dichloroacetone and
epichlorohydrin which comprises: (a) re-acting acetone with 2 moles of
bromine to make a mixture of brominated acetone derivatives and byproduct
hydrogen bromide; (b) equilibrating the mixture of brominated acetone
derivatives and hydrogen bromide to produce 1,3-dibromoacetone as the
major product; (c) crystallizing the 1,3-dibromoacetone; and (d)
isolating the 1,3-dibromoacetone. The process may further include the
steps of (e) reacting the 1,3-dibromoacetone with a chloride source to
produce 1,3-dichloroacetone; (f) hydrogenating the isolated
1,3-dichloroacetone to produce 1,3-dichlorohydrin; and (g) cyclizing the
1,3-dichlorohydrin with a base to produce epichlorohydrin.