2-hydroxy-2,5-dihydrofuran-5-one prepn - by low temp photooxidn of furan or furfural

摘要

2-Hydroxy-2,5-dihydrofuran-5-one (I) is prepd by oxidn of furan or furfuran with O2 or a gas contg O2 in a solvent at 70 degrees C while irradiating with light, the novelty residing in the fact that the solvent is distilled from the reaction mixt at 70 degrees C and (I) is isolated from the residue by crystn. Prior art processes using EtOH as solvent gave the 2-ethoxy deriv, which had then be saponified. Opt. substd. (I) e.g. mucochloric acid are inters for herbicidal pyridazones.