Claims
- 1. In the method of preparing tetrahydrofurans by cyclizing diols, the improvement comprising using a mixture of 1,4-butanediol and 2-alkyl-1,4-butanediol produced by bringing together, at an initial pH of 9-14, and a temperature and pressure suitable reaction,
- (a) hydrogen,
- (b) hydrogenation catalyst, and
- (c) 1,4-butynediol or 1,4-butenediol, and an aldehyde of the structure
- R--CHO
- where R is hydrogen or an alkyl radical of 1-4 carbon atoms,
- in a butynediol or butenediol/aldehyde weight ratio of 2/1 to 200/1.
- 2. A method for preparing a copolymer of tetrahydrofuran and 3-alkyltetrahydrofuran, the method comprising adding a suitable polymerization catalyst to the mixture produced by the method of claim 1 and holding the mixture under conditions suitable for polymerization.
- 3. The method of claim 1 wherein the butynediol or butenediol/aldehyde weight ratio is 2/1 to 27/1.
- 4. The method of claim 1 wherein the butynediol or butenediol/aldehyde weight ratio is 2/1 to 25/1.
- 5. The method of claim 1 wherein the butynediol or butenediol/aldyhyde weight ratio is 10/1 to 25/1.
- 6. The method of claim 3 wherein the aldehyde is formaldehyde.
- 7. The method of claim 6 wherein the pH is 10-11.
- 8. The method of claim 2 wherein the butynediol or butenediol/aldehyde weight ratio is 2/1 to 27 to 1.
- 9. The method of claim 2 wherein the butynediol or butenediol/aldehyde weight ratio is 2/1 to 25/1.
- 10. The method of claim 2 wherein the butynediol of butenediol/aldehyde weight ratio is 10/1 to 25/1.
- 11. The method of claim 8 wherein the aldehyde is formaldehyde.
- 12. The method of claim 11 wherein the pH is 10-11.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application is a divisional of application Ser. No. 502,317, filed June 8, 1983.
US Referenced Citations (5)
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
1242358 |
Aug 1971 |
GBX |
Divisions (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
502317 |
Jun 1983 |
|