2-Methyltetrahydrofuran

Methyltetrahydrofuran (MeTHF). Acts as a versatile aprotic solvent that is an excellent replacement for tetrahydrofuran (THF) in Grignard and other organometallic reactions. Its limited miscibility with water facilitates easy product recovery. Can be easily dried with lower losses and lower recycle costs compared to THF. Gives cleaner phase separations compared to processes that use solvent exchange of THF with toluene. It is especially useful for producing high concentrations of homogeneous solutions of bromo Grignard reagents as well as gives high yields of benzyl and allyl Grignard reagents. Provides improved yields of addition product in systems where THF gives high yields of reduction product. Permits higher reaction temperature and lower losses from reactor condensers. It has been found to be a very effective solvent for biphasic reactions, especially for reactions with aqueous NaOH such as alkylation, amidation and nucleophilic substitution reactions. MeTHF gives clean phase separations in these reactions and high reactivity.