Transformations of heterocyclic compounds on membrane catalysts - I. Hydrogenation of furan compounds on a pd-ni alloy

The transformations of furan, α-methylfuran, furfural, and 2,3-dihydrofuran on a palladium - nickel membrane catalyst at 50-300°C under conditions of diffusion of hydrogen through the catalyst were investigated. Under these conditions furan is hydrogenated to tetrahydrofuran in quantitative yield. Considerable amounts of furan, the hydrogenation of which in the presence of the above-named derivatives is inhibited, are detected in the catalyzate along with hydrogenation products in the transformations of α-methylfuran, furfural, and 2,3-dihydrofuran. © 1976 Plenum Publishing Corporation