Preparation of butane-1,4-diol

US4361710A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• BASF SE

Inventors

• Hans-Martin Weitz · Bad Dürkheim, DE
• Rolf Schnabel · Schifferstadt, DE
• Rolf Platz

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 10, 1982
• Grant date: Nov 30, 1982
• Expiry date: Feb 10, 2002

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C07C29/177
• WIPO field: Organic fine chemistry
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A process for the preparation of butane-1,4-diol by catalytic hydrogenation of a mixture obtained by treating maleic anhydride with an aliphatic alcohol at elevated temperatures, wherein a monohydric or dihydric aliphatic alcohol of boiling point above 180.degree. C. is used and the mixture of maleic acid and the alcohol is obtained by washing a gaseous reaction mixture, which contains maleic anhydride and is obtained in the catalytic oxidation of hydrocarbons by air, with the alcohol.