2-Methyltetrahydrofuran
Identifiers
CAS number	96-47-9 Y
ChemSpider	7028 Y
Jmol-3D images	Image 1
SMILES O1C(C)CCC1
InChI InChI=1S/C5H10O/c1-5-3-2-4-6-5/h5H,2-4H2,1H3 Y Key: JWUJQDFVADABEY-UHFFFAOYSA-N Y InChI=1/C5H10O/c1-5-3-2-4-6-5/h5H,2-4H2,1H3 Key: JWUJQDFVADABEY-UHFFFAOYAM
Properties
Molecular formula	C5H10O
Molar mass	86.13 g mol−1
Density	0.854 g/mL
Melting point	-136 °C, 137 K, -213 °F
Boiling point	80.3 °C, 353 K, 177 °F
Hazards
MSDS	External MSDS
Y (verify) (what is: Y/N?) Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa)
Infobox references

2-Methyltetrahydrofuran is an organic compound with the molecular formula CH₃C₄H₇O. It is a highly flammable mobile liquid. It is mainly used as a replacement for THF in specialized applications for its better performance, such as to obtain higher reaction temperatures, or easier separations due to the solubility of 2-methyltetrahydrofuran. It is derived from furfural and is usable as a biofuel.

Structures and properties

2-Methyltetrahydrofuran is “inversely soluble” in water. That is, its solubility decreases with increasing temperature, which is a rare property.^[1] 2-Methyltetrahydrofuran behaves like tetrahydrofuran as a Lewis base in organometallic reactions.^[2]

Preparation

2-Methyltetrahydrofuran is usually synthesized by catalytic hydrogenation of furfural.

OC₄H₃CHO + 4 H₂ → OC₄H₇CH₃ + H₂O

Furfural is produced by the acid-catalyzed digestion of pentosan sugars, C₅ polysaccharides, in biomass. Thus, the raw materials of 2-methyltetrahydrofuran are renewable biomass rich with cellulose, hemicelluloses, and lignin, such as corncobs or bagasse and other plant and agricultural waste.^[3]

2-Methyltetrahydrofuran can also be produced starting from levulinic acid. Cyclization and reduction gives γ-valerolactone:

This lactone can be hydrogenated to 1,4-pentanediol, which can then be dehydrated to give 2-methyltetrahydrofuran:

2-Methyltetrahydrofuran has one stereocenter, so it exists in two enantiomeric forms. The commercial processes involving hydrogenation gives a racemic mixture of the two. The asymmetric synthesis of (S)-(+)-2-methyltetrahydrofuran can achieved by using a wool–rhodium complex as a chiral catalyst for hydrogenation of methyl furan.^[1]

Applications

2-Methyltetrahydrofuran is mainly used as a higher boiling substitute for tetrahydrofuran as specialty solvent. It also is used in the electrolyte formulation for secondary lithium electrodes and as a component in alternative fuels. It is a valued solvent for low temperature reactions. 2-Methyltetrahydrofuran forms a glass, which does not crystallize, and is frequently used as a solvent for spectroscopic studies at -196 °C. ^[2]

Other common uses of 2-methyltetrahydrofuran is as a solvent for Grignard reagents used in organometallic and biphasic chemical processes, because of the oxygen atom's ability to coordinate to the magnesium ion component of the Grignard reagent, or to azeotropically dry products. The use of 2-methyltetrahydrofuran provides very clean organic-water phase separations. It is a popular, but costlier substitute for tetrahydrofuran.

2-Methyltetrahydrofuran is approved by the United States Department of Energy as an additive to gasoline. Furfural and other partially hydrogenated/reduced furyl compounds between it and 2-methyltetrahydrofuran (furfuryl alcohol, methylfuran, tetrahydrofural alcohol) have a tendency to polymerize and are quite volatile. 2-Methyltetrahydrofuran itself, however, is more stable and less volatile, and thus is suitable for use as a motor fuel.

References

• Huber, George W.; Iborra, Sara; Corma, Avelino (2006). "Synthesis of Transportation Fuels from Biomass: Chemistry, Catalysts, and Engineering". Chemical Reviews 106: 4044–4098. doi:10.1021/cr068360d. 

Further reading

• Zheng, Hong-Yan; Zhu, Yu-Lei; Teng, Bo-Tao; Bai, Zong-Qing; Zhang, Cheng-Hua; Xiang, Hong-Wei; Li, Yong-Wang (2006). "Towards understanding the reaction pathway in vapor phasehydrogenation of furfural to 2-methylfuran". Journal of Molecular Catalysis A, Chemical 246: 18. doi:10.1016/j.molcata.2005.10.003.