Conversion of 1,4-Butanediol to Furan Compounds on Cobalt Catalysts in the Liquid Phase

Article abstract of DOI:10.1007/BF00503323

The transformation of 1,4-butanediol on cobalt catalysts applied to kieselguhr in the liquid phase under periodic and continuous conditions was investigated.When the reaction is carried out under periodic conditions, the principal reaction products are 2,3-dihydrofuran, tetrahydrofuran, and γ-butyrolactone.An increase in the selectivity of the formation of 2,3-dihydrofuran as the temperature is raised was established. 2,3-Dihydrofuran is obtained in 63-73 mole percent yields under optimum conditions. 2,3-Dihydrofuran is converted to tetrahydrofuran when the process is carried out under continuous conditions on a tableted cobalt catalyst.