Patent ID: 8709286

Claim:
A method of making at least one desired compound selected from the group consisting of a (5-alkoxymethyl)-tetrahydrofuran-2-methanol compound of the formula: and a (5-alkoxymethyl)-furan-2-methanol compound of the formula: wherein R is an alkyl group of 1 to 5 carbons, comprising contacting a source of R-5′ alkoxy methylfurfural ether with hydrogen and a catalyst selected from the group consisting of: a nickel catalyst, a nickel catalyst with a zirconium promoter, a copper chromite catalyst with a barium promoter, a ruthenium catalyst, and a palladium catalyst, at a temperature and a pressure and for a time selected to convert at least 80% of the R-5′ alkoxy methylfurfural to at least one desired compound in a single step.