Process for producing 2-hydroxy-4-methyltetrahydrofuran

摘要

2-Hydroxy-4-methyltetrahydrofuran is prepared by reacting 2-methyl-2-propen-1-ol with hydrogen and carbon monoxide in the presence of: (a) a rhodium compound, and (b) tris(substituted aryl)phosphite having an electronic parameter ( nu -value) of 2080 to 2090 cm-1 and a steric parameter ( theta -value) of 135 DEG to 190 DEG and having formula (1):tly of each other represent a substituted aryl group having at least 7 carbon atoms, the ratio of said rhodium compound (a) to said tris(substituted aryl) phosphite (b) ranging from 110 to 1000 moles per 1 gram atom of rhodium in said rhodium compound (a).