Ethanol → Succinate

Participants

Reaction Steps

EP-A 255,400 describes a method of producing pure GBL whereby the problem of the azeotrope formed by GBL and DES is avoided by adding diethyl maleate. The mixture of BD, THF, GBL, DES, ethanol, n-butanol and water produced by catalytic hydrogenation of diethyl maleate, fumarate or succinate is distilled in a first column such that ethanol, water, THF and n-butanol are removed at the top, whilst all other components remain at the bottom of the column. The bottoms from the first column are then distilled in a second column such that the GBL/DES azeotrope is removed at the top and the BD remains at the bottom. Purification of the GBL is effected by passing the overheads from the second column to a third column together with a suitable amount of diethyl maleate as used as starting material for the catalytic hydrogenation. Pure GBL is removed at the top of the column.

Provenance & Evidence