PROCESS FOR PRODUCTION OF 3-HYDROXYTETRAHYDROFURAN

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide high-purity 3-hydroxytetrahydrofuran in a high yield easily and simply by an industrially advantageous process. SOLUTION: The process includes: reducing a 4-halo-3-hydroxybutyric acid ester with a boron hydride compound and/or an aluminum hydride compound in an organic solvent immiscible with water; treating the reaction mixture with an acid and water to convert it into the corresponding 4-halo-1, 3-butanediol and at the same time obtaining an aqueous solution containing the compound; carrying out the cyclization reaction in the aqueous solution; extracting the resulting 3-hydroxytetrahydrofuran from the aqueous solution using an organic solvent immiscible with water; and isolating the 3-hydroxytetrahydrofuran by concentration and/or distillation of the solution obtained. COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT