Hydrierung von Diethylsuccinat zu γ‐Butyrolacton, 1,4‐Butandiol und Tetrahydrofuran

The shortage of fossil resources necessitates the search for alternative sources for the production of important bulk chemicals. Diethyl succinate derived from biobased succinic acid can be used as a renewable alternative to fossil resources for the production of gamma-butyrolactone, 1,4-butanediol and tetrahydrofuran. Commercially available ZnO-free copper catalysts in a fixed-bed reactor show promising selectivity to C4 products, but 1,4-butanediol dehydration to tetrahydrofuran occurs over acidic sites, like alumina and zirconia.