Levulinic acid and esters thereof transfer hydrogenation method γ- valerolactone

Levulinic acid and esters thereof transfer hydrogenation method γ- valerolactone, γ- valerolactone relates. Substrate was added to the reaction in an organic alcohol, the resulting alcohol as the raw material solution was placed in an autoclave, the reaction was heated metal oxide catalyst was added, to give the desired product γ- valerolactone. While using an alcohol as the hydrogen donor and reaction medium, no external source of hydrogen and other solvents, the reaction system is simple, facilitates the separation of the desired product. Manner by catalytic transfer hydrogenation of selective reduction of levulinic acid and esters thereof, transfer hydrogenation with a high degree of specificity for one group, no over-hydrogenation products. Using cheap and readily available as metal oxide catalysts, especially under supercritical conditions efficiently selective reduction levulinic acid and esters thereof, no need to add additional catalyst promoter.