Production and some reactions of furfuryl alcohol

Furfuryl alcohol has been produced in overall yields greater than 90% by one pass of the mixed vapors, of hydrogen and furfural over a stabalized copper chromite catalyst. The process to simple, economical and capable of adaptation to commercial production;In the unit described 68 grams of furfuryl alcohol were produced for each gram of catalyst used. The catalyst was still active at a temperature below 150°C;For maximum catalyst life and minimum production of 2-methylfuran the reaction temperature to kept below Reduction was observed as low an 100°C;A non-porous carrier (e.g. glass beads) has definite advantages over activated charcoal as a catalyst. When the other variables are hold constant the yield of 2-methylfuran, was shown to increase with the reaction temperature;2-Valerolactone has been produced In excellent yields by the low pressure (500 p.s.i.) reduction of levulinic acid over a Raney nickel catalyst without solvent;Levulinic acid has been hydrogenated over a copper chromite catalyst at high pressure without solvent to give 80% combined yield of 2-valerolactone and 1,4-pentanediol;beta-Angelica lactone had been reduced at high pressure over a chromite catalyst to give 2-valerolactone and 1.4-pentanediol;Some of the reactions of 2-methylfuran have been reviewed. These included polymerization by metal halides, Friedel-Crafts reaction and mercuration;gamma-Furfuryloxy-n-porpylamine amine has been produced in good yields by the reduction of the corresponding propionitrile in liquid ammonia. The yield of gamma-tetrahydrofurfuryloxy-n-furfuryloxy-n-propylamine has been Improved from 55 to 90%. Several salts of these amines were prepared;An interesting polymer was formed by the reaction between gamma-furfuryloxy-n-propylamine and formaldehyde. The reaction is easily controlled to give a product which is of potential value as a plasticizer or an ion-exchange resin;The acid and alkaline hydrolysis of beta-furfuryl-oxypropionitrile and the corresponding tetrahydrofurfuryl derivative have been studied. Alkaline hydrolysis is impractical