A PROCESS FOR THE PREPARATION OF A MIXTURE COMPRISING 1,4-BUTANEDIOL AND 2-ALKYL-1,4-BUTANEDIOL,AND IF DESIRED,SEPARATING 1,4-BUTANEDIOL AND/OR 2-ALKYL-1,4-BUTANEDIOL FROM THE MIXTURE

摘要

Process for preparing 2-alkyl-1,4-butanediols and mixtures with 1,4-butanediol which comprises bringing together, at an initial alkaline pH, and at a temperature and pressure suitable for reaction, 2,3-dihydrofuran, hydrogen, an unsubstituted aliphatic aldehyde, especially formaldehyde, and a hydrogenation catalyst. Also processes for preparing mixtures of tetrahydrofuran and 3-alkyltetrahydrofuran from the diol mixtures, and copolymers from the tetrahydrofuran mixtures.