PURPOSE: To obtain the title compound useful as solvents industrially advantageously by recycling part of the reaction product between an acetate of 1,4-butanediol or 1,4-butenediol-2 and water through a reaction zone, and by controlling the total water content including the water in the reaction product at a specific value or below.
CONSTITUTION: A mixed vapor of a cyclic ether and water and a liquid substance, which are obtained by reaction between an acetate of 1,4-butanediol or 1,4-butenediol-2 and water, are continuously taken out of a reaction zone, and they are distilled separately to give a substantially anhydrous cyclic ether and acetic acid. The fraction of the azeotropic mixture of the cyclic ether and water and part of the bottoms after recovery of acetic acid are recycled through the reaction zone to make the total amount of water to be fed as a raw material including the water in the recycle stream equimolar or less with the acetate regarded as a diester.
OKA HITOSHI
SHIGEYOSHI YOUJI
