CONTINUOUS PROCESS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF OPTICALLY PURE (S)-.BETA.-HYDROXY-.GAMMA.-BUTYROLACTONE

摘要

Disclosed is a process for the production of optically pure (S)-beta-hydroxy - gamma-butyrolactone through the hydrogenation of substituted carboxylic acid derivatives. A solution containing 1 to 50 % by weight of a substituted carboxylic acid derivative is fed at a WHSV of 0.1 to 10 h-1, to a fixed bed reactor which is filled with a catalyst and maintained at a reaction temperature of 50 to 550 ~C under a halogen partial pressure of 15 to 5,500 psig. The catalyst is composed of a noble metal as a catalytically effective ingredient which is impregnated in an inorganic oxide as a support. The mola r ratio of the hydrogen to the substituted carboxylic acid derivative is maintained at a molar ratio of 1:1 to 10:1. The process can produce opticall y pure (S)-beta-hydroxy-gamma-butyrolactone with higher purities at higher yields than can conventional techniques. In addition to being relatively simple and environmentally friendly, the process is so economically favorabl e as to apply to industrial production.