Process for producing 3-methyltetrahydrofuran

摘要

There is disclosed a process for producing 3-methyl-tetrahydrofuran which comprises the step 1 of subjecting the compound represented by the general formula [I]ROOC-CH(CH3)-CH2-CHO[I]wherein R is an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms and the formyl group may be present as an acetal having an alkanol with 1 to 8 carbon atoms, to hydrogenation and alcohol-eliminating cyclization to synthesize 2-methyl- gamma -butyrolactone; the step 2 of separating the 2-methyl- gamma -butyrolactone formed in the step 1 from alcohols by means of distillation, etc.; and the step 3 of hydrogenating the 2-methyl- gamma -butyrolactone which is formed in the step 2. The above process enables the production of the objective highly-pure 3-methyltetrahydrofuran substantially free from an alcohol in high efficiency and high conversion through simplified production steps.