Single step process for production of 2-methyltetrahydrofuran from furfuryl alcohol

A process for producing 2-methyltetrahydrofuran from furfuryl alcohol, comprising the following step:

• a) contacting furfuryl alcohol with hydrogen in presence of a catalytic system in a liquid solvent to obtain a reaction mixture comprising 2-methyltetrahydrofuran and the catalytic system,
• wherein the catalytic system comprises a supported metal catalyst and a Lewis acid,
• wherein the Lewis acid is chosen from aluminium triflate, boron trifluoride, bis(oxalato)boric acid, cyanuric chloride, iron trichloride, iron trichloride hexahydrate, iron(II) dodecyl sulfate, iron(III) dodecyl sulfate, lithium tetrafluoroborate, magnesium bromide, magnesium triflate, scandium triflate, silver triflate, tin tetrachloride, tin tetrachloride pentahydrate, zinc tetrafluoroborate, zinc triflate and mixtures thereof.