Preparation of 1,4-butanediol or tetrahydrofuran or both

US4940805A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• BASF SE

Inventors

• Rolf Fischer · Heidelberg, DE
• Hans-Juergen Gosch · Bad Dürkheim, DE
• Wolfgang Harder · Weinheim, DE
• Klaus-Dieter Malsch · Schifferstadt, DE
• Manfred Eggersdorfer · Mannheim, DE
• Lothar Franz · Ludwigshafen, DE
• Horst Zimmermann · Mannheim, DE
• Karl Brenner · Ludwigshafen, DE
• Klaus Halbritter · Heidelberg, DE
• Wolfgang Sauer · Everberg, BE
• Hans-Juergen Scheiper · Mutterstadt, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 8, 1988
• Grant date: Jul 10, 1990
• Expiry date: Aug 8, 2008

Classification

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

Abstract

Process for the preparation of 1,4-butanediol or tetrahydrofuran or both by the catalytic hydrogenation of maleic anhydride, succinic anhydride, maleic acid, succinic acid, fumaric acid, or the alkyl esters of these acids at temperatures of from 100.degree. C. to 350.degree. C. and pressures of from 50 bar to 350 bar over a catalyst containing cobalt as the active metal and one or both of the elements copper and phosphorus, if necessary in the presence of an aliphatic alcohol.