Preparation of tetrahydrofuran and gamma-butyrolactone

US5319111A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• BASF SE

Inventors

• Horst Zimmermann · Mannheim, DE
• Karl Brenner · Ludwigshafen, DE
• Hans-Juergen Scheiper · Mutterstadt, DE
• Wolfgang Sauer · Everberg, BE
• Horst Hartmann · Dresden, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 17, 1992
• Grant date: Jun 7, 1994
• Expiry date: Aug 17, 2012

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C07D307/08
• WIPO field: Organic fine chemistry
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A process for the preparation of tetrahydrofuran or tetrahydrofuran and .gamma.-butyrolactone from the product of the hydrogenation of maleic acid, succinic acid, maleic anhydride, succinic anhydride and/or fumaric acid, by treating the crude hydrogenation product, without prior work-up, at from 100.degree. to 300.degree. C. with a protic acid, and isolating pure tetrahydrofuran and .gamma.-butyrolactone from the resultant reaction mixture by distillation.