Tetrahydrofuran → Formaldehyde

Participants

Reaction Steps

A process for the preparation of tetrahydrofuran from an aqueous solution of butane-1,4-diol by eliminating water in the liquid phase at elevated temperatures, under superatmospheric pressure and in the presence of an acid, wherein a crude alkaline aqueous solution of butane-1,4-diol, obtained by reaction of acetylene with aqueous formaldehyde and catalytic hydrogenation of the resulting but-2-yne-1,4-diol solution, is, neutralized with sulfuric acid, and is then acidified by adding phosphoric acid and heated at from 200° to 260° C. under superatmospheric pressure.

Provenance & Evidence