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.