AbstractThe liquid phase dehydrochlorination of 1‐chlorododecane (1‐DDCl), 2‐chlorododecane (2‐DDCl), 1,1,3‐trichlorononane (TCN), and dichlorononene (DCN) was investigated in the temperature range of 202—262°C in a nitrogen atmosphere. On the basis of the decomposition rate constant and activation energy the stability order for the dehydrochlorination in liquid phase was found to be 1‐DDCl>2‐DDCl>TCN>DCN. The influence of the solvents methyl salicylate and eugenol on the dehydrochlorination of these chloro compounds was different from their influence on the dehydrochlorination of PVC. Therefore, a molecular mechanism for dehydrochlorination believed to be operating in these chloro compounds may not be operating in