Catalytic production of butyrolactone or tetrahydrofuran

摘要

A process for the preparation of supported bimetallic catalyst useful for the hydrogenation of esters of dicarboxylic acids, which comprises impregnating activated alumina powder with transition metal by contacting the said solid alumina powder with an aqueous solution of a salt of a transition metal, treating the said transition metal salt impregnated alumina powder with an aqueous solution of a salt of group (IV) metal in acidic medium so as to have ratio of transition metal to group (IV) A metal in the range of 1:5 to 1:20, further treating the bimetallic impregnated alumina powder with an alkali solution followed by a solution of boron containing compound, finally washing and drying the resultant supported catalyst.