Process for the production of mixtures of 2-hydroxytetrahydrofuran and 4-hydroxybutanal
US5254701A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 20, 1991 |
| Grant date | Oct 19, 1993 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 20, 2011 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
- CPC primaryC07D307/20
- WIPO fieldOrganic fine chemistry
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
Disclosed is a process for the production of an equilibrium mixture of 2-hydroxytetrahydrofuran and 4-hydroxybutanal by a two-step process comprising (1) heating 2,5-dihydrofuran in the presence of a catalyst system comprising a phosphine, ruthenium or rhodium to convert the 2,5-dihydrofuran to 2,3-dihydrofuran; and (2) contacting 2,3-dihydrofuran with water in the presence of an acidic catalyst to convert the 2,3-dihydrofuran to a mixture of 2-hydroxytetrahydrofuran and 4-hydroxybutanal. Also disclosed is a process for the continuous production of an aqueous solution of 2-hydroxytetrahydrofuran and 4-hydroxybutanal. The mixture of 2-hydroxytetra-hydrofuran and 4-hydroxybutanal may be catalytically hydrogenated to produce 1,4-butanediol.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.