Catalytic conversion of 2-hydroxymethyltetrahydrofuran into pyridine

Abstract

The ammonolysis of 2-hydroxymethyltetrahydrofuran over a palladium–alumina catalyst in the temperature range 235–450° has been studied in a flow system. Pseudo-first-order rate parameters have been calculated to predict the yields of pyridine, higher molecular weight pyridines, and tetrahydropyridine as functions of contact time and temperature under reducing conditions. In the presence of air the formation of higher molecular weight pyridines is prevented and the reaction then gives 60% yields of pyridine at complete conversion of 2-hydroxymethyltetrahydrofuran.