GB610876A - Improvements in and relating to the production of saturated heterocyclic compounds - Google Patents

Abstract

Tetrahydrofurans of the general formula <FORM:0610876/IV(b)/1> (in which A and B are alkoxy and X and Y are hydrogen, a saturated hydrocarbon radical or a saturated group containing carbon, hydrogen and oxygen only) are prepared by hydrogenating the corresponding dihydrofurane <FORM:0610876/IV(b)/2> in the presence of a hydrogenating catalyst comprising a metal of Group VIII of the Periodic Table, A and B may be alkoxy groups containing up to and including 5 carbon atoms, and X and Y may be H, CH3, C2H5, COOCH3 or COOC2H5. Finely divided platinum, platinum-on-kieselguhr, spongy platinum, finely divided nickel, nickel - on - kieselguhr, finely divided cobalt, cobalt-on-kieselguhr, or a foraminate nickel or cobalt catalyst may be used. In an example, 2,5-dimethoxy-tetrahydrofuran is prepared by hydrogenating 2,5-dimethoxy-2,5-dihydrofuran in the presence of Raney nickel catalyst, sodium carbonate and methanol. In another example, 2,5-dimethoxy-2,5-dihydrofuran is hydrogenated in methanol in the presence of a nickel-on-kieselguhr catalyst. 2,5 - Dimethoxy - 2 - methyltetrahydrofuran and the methyl ester of 2,5-dimethoxy tetrahydrofuroic acid are examples of other compounds which may be prepared. Specification 570,843, [Group III], is referred to.