Process for producing oxetane

氧杂环丁烷的制备方法，该方法包括使具有两个或更多个羟基的醇与碳酰胺反应，二者的摩尔比采用1-2摩尔所述碳酰胺对1-2摩尔所述醇。醇优选地具有至少一个1，3-二醇基。反应是在至少一种促进和/或引发转羰基化作用和/或热解作用的催化剂的存在下进行的。得到一种反应混合物，它包含氧杂环丁烷和可选的所述醇的原碳酸酯。氧杂环丁烷适合从所述反应混合物中例如通过蒸馏加以回收。 A process for production of an oxetane, which process comprises subjecting an alcohol having two or more hydroxyl groups to reaction with a carbamide at a molar ratio employing 1-2 moles of said carbamide on 1-2 moles of said alcohol. The alcohols preferably have at least one 1,3-diol grouping. The reaction is carried out in the presence of at least one catalyst promoting and/or initiating transcarbonylation and/or pyrolysis. A reaction mixture comprising an oxetane and optionally an orthocarbonate of said alcohol is yielded. The oxetane is suitable recovered from said reaction mixture by for instance distillation.