Highly selective synthesis of biomass-based 1,4-butanediol monomer by alcoholysis of 1,4-diacetoxybutane derived from furan

Biomass-based 1,4-butanediol (BD) was produced with high selectivity from diacetoxybutane (DAB) and alcohol using a KHSO4 catalyst, which could be recycled. The DAB used in this reaction could be produced from furan, which, in turn, can be easily produced from furfural. The conversion of furfural to BD was carried out under mild conditions such as low H2 pressure (0.69 MPa). These processes produce not only tetrahydrofuran (THF) but also alkyl esters, which are industrial important chemicals. Alkyl esters are alternatives to benzene, toluene and xylene (BTX) solvents. It was confirmed that the BD synthesized in this paper was entirely biobased because its biobased carbon content was 99.63%, as determined by accelerator mass spectrometry based on ASTM D6866.