METHOD FOR PRODUCING ALKANEDIOL

摘要

Provided by the present invention is a method for producing an alkanediol, such as 1,5-pentanediol, with a high reaction selectivity thereto by reacting a cyclic ether group-containing methanol such as tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol by using a non-chromium catalyst not containing chromium atom. More specifically, the method is to produce an alkanediol having hydroxy groups at both molecular terminals shown by the formula (2), includes reacting a cyclic ether group-containing methanol shown by the formula (1) with hydrogen in the presence of a metal catalyst which contains copper atom, at least one co-existing atom selected from the group consisting of elements of the third to the sixth periods of the II to XIV groups (excluding chromium) in the periodical table and lanthanide elements.

主权项

1. A method for producing an alkanediol having hydroxy groups at both molecular terminals having formula (2), comprising:
contacting a cyclic ether group-comprising methanol having formula (1) with hydrogen in the presence of a metal catalyst; wherein the metal catalyst comprises a copper atom and at least one co-existing atom selected from the group consisting of elements of the third to the sixth periods of the II to XIV groups (excluding chromium) in the periodical table and lanthanide elements; wherein formula (1) is: wherein R1 and R2 represent are each independently a hydrogen atom, a fluorine atom, a methyl group, or an ethyl group; “n” and “m” each independently are the number of methylene groups; “n” represents an integer of 0, 1, or 2; “m” represents an integer of 1 or 2; and wherein “n+m” is 2 to 4; wherein formula (2) is: wherein R1 and R2 are each independently a hydrogen atom, a fluorine atom, a methyl group, or an ethyl group; “n” and “m” each independently are the number of methylene groups; “n” represents an integer of 0, 1, or 2; “m” represents an integer of 1 or 2.