Hydrogenation of tetrahydroxybutane to tetrahydrofuran
AssigneeInvista North America S.A.R.L.
InventorLeo Ernest Manzer
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Abstract
Disclosed is a method for the hydrogenation of tetrahydroxybutane in the presence of supported rhenium catalysts and an acid to form tetrahydrofuran and its precursors.
Claims31
A process for preparing tetrahydrofuran or a mixture of tetrahydrofuran and unsaturated precursors of tetrahydrofuran, the process comprising contacting 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroxybutane in the presence of at least one acid with a catalytic amount of rhenium, the rhenium being supported on a carbon support.
A process for preparing tetrahydrofuran or a mixture of tetrahydrofuran and precursors of tetrahydrofuran, the process comprising the steps of:
- a) converting 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroxybutane to 3,4-tetrahydrofurandiol;
- b) optionally, separating the 3,4-tetrahydrofurandiol;
- and
- c) contacting the 3,4-tetrahydrofurandiol in the presence of at least one acid with a catalytic amount of rhenium, the rhenium being supported on a carbon support.
A process for preparing tetrahydrofuran and precursors of tetrahydrofuran comprising the steps of:
- a) converting erythritol to anhydroerythritol;
- b) optionally separating the anhydroerythritol;
- and
- c) contacting the anhydroerythritol in the presence of an acid with a catalytic amount of rhenium supported on carbon.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.