Maleic Anhydride → Gamma-Butyrolactone

Participants

Reaction Steps

Continuous production can be carried out by either the flooded-bed or the trickle-bed method. In batchwise hydrogenation a typical procedure is to charge a high-pressure autoclave with maleic anhydride dissolved in tetrahydrofuran and the catalyst, introduce hydrogen under pressure, and heat the mixture. When the reaction is completed the mixture is cooled, the catalyst is separated off, and the tetrahydrofuran, gamma-butyrolactone, and 1,4-butanediol are isolated by fractional distillation. If required it is also possible to post-hydrogenate the gamma-butyrolactone to 1,4-butanediol and tetrahydrofuran, then to cyclize the 1,4-butanediol in the usual way.

Provenance & Evidence