Sulfamic acid as a cost-effective catalyst instead of metal-containing acids for acetolysis of cyclic ethers

Sulfamic acid has been used as an efficient catalyst and green alternative for metal-containing acidic materials to promote the acetolysis reaction of THF to produce 1,4-diacetoxybutane. This method is also applicable to the acetolysis of other cyclic ethers, such as methyl substituted THF and tetrahydropyran and 1,4-dioxane, which is less reactive.