A process for producing a fluoroolefin of the formula: CF.sub.3CY.dbd.CX.sub.nH.sub.p wherein Y is a
hydrogen atom or a
halogen atom (i.e.,
fluorine,
chlorine,
bromine or
iodine); X is a
hydrogen atom or a
halogen atom (i.e.,
fluorine,
chlorine,
bromine or
iodine); n and p are integers independently equal to 0, 1 or 2, provided that (n+p)=2; comprising contacting, in the presence of a
phase transfer catalyst, a compound of the formula: CF.sub.3C(R.sup.1.sub.aR.sup.2.sub.b) C(R.sup.3.sub.cR.sup.4.sub.d), wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, and R.sup.4 are independently a
hydrogen atom or a
halogen selected from the group consisting of
fluorine,
chlorine,
bromine and
iodine, provided that at least one of R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, and R.sup.4 is halogen and there is at least one hydrogen and one halogen on adjacent carbon atoms; a and b are independently=0, 1 or 2 and (a+b)=2; and c and d are independently=0, 1, 2 or 3 and (c+d)=3; and at least one
alkali metal hydroxide. The
alkali metal hydroxide can be, for example,
potassium or
sodium hydroxide and the
phase transfer catalyst can be, for example, at least one:
crown ether such as 18-crown-6 and 15-crown-5; or
onium salt such as,
quaternary phosphonium salt and
quaternary ammonium salt. The olefin is useful, for example, as an intermediate for producing other industrial chemicals and as a
monomer for producing oligomers and polymers.