Patent ID: 10150726

Abstract:
Provided is a method for efficiently producing a levulinic acid ester from a cellulose-containing raw material or a carbohydrate-containing raw material in an alcohol solvent using an inexpensive, easily available catalytic system. In a method for producing a levulinic acid ester by reacting at least one of a cellulose-containing raw material and a carbohydrate-containing raw material in the presence of an alcohol and a catalyst, use is made of, as a catalyst, a combination of: at least one metal compound (exclusive of gallium acetylacetonate and indium acetylacetonate) selected from the group consisting of hydroxide salts, sulfates, nitrates, carboxylates, alkoxides, acetylacetonates, and oxides of at least one metal selected from the group consisting of metals belonging to Group XIII and Group XIV of the Periodic Table; and an organic sulfonic acid.