Manufacture of tetrahydrofuran from the diacetate of 1,4-butanediol

摘要

Tetrahydrofuran is prepared from a compound containing butanediol or capable of generating butanediol. The butanediol-donating compound is an ester of butanediol which is reacted with hydrolysis and etherification by passing it downwardly through a distillation column together with an acid catalyst and passing steam upwardly therethrough. The product which distills off is tetrahydrofuran.