摘要 |
A process for the production of at least one C4 compound selected from 1,4-butanediol, gamma-butyrolactone and tetrahydrofuran, in which a solution of maleic anhydride in a high boiling ester is esterified with a C1 to C4 alcohol to form the corresponding maleate ester which is hydrogenated to form the at least one C4 compound. The specified high boiling ester has a boiling point which is about 30 degrees C. higher than that of the di-(C1-C4 alkyl)maleate. |