PURPOSE: To prepare the compounds which are three functional compounds by catalytically hydrogenating citric acid or its alkyl ester or its aralkyl ester.
CONSTITUTION: The objective compounds are prepared by catalytically hydrogenating citric acid or its 1-20C alkyl ester or its 7-12C aralkyl ester in a nonaqueous solvent (e.g. THF) in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst at 50-400°C and at a pressure of 1-40 bar. As the catalyst, the conventional catalyst, e.g. the composition containing NiO, CuO, Al2O3 and MoO3 can be used in this process. By selection of the reaction conditions, the solvent and the catalyst, propane-1,2,3-tricarboxylic acid, tetrahydrofurfuryl acetic acid, and their 1-20C alkyl or 7-12C aralkyl ester, propane-1,2,3-trimethanol, 3- methyltetrahydrofuran, 3-(2'-hydroxyethyl) tetrahydrofuran, 4- hydroxymethyltetrahydropyran, 2-methyl-γ-butyrolactone and/or 3-methyl-γ- butyrolactone are prepared.
RORUFU FUITSUSHIYAA
KURISUTOFU JIKUBUARUTO
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