[limpet chicken]

I had an idea, just now, for a potential synthesis of tetrahydrofuran, which has been proving hard to aqquire nowadays.

How about this.


Take butane, kept liquid.
Oxidise the alkane to an alkene.
 
Epoxidise butene to 1,4-epoxybutene using performic or peracetic acid with a catalytic amount of H2SO4 then reduce the double bond with NaBH4 in a nonpolar solvent with a differing boiling point (and preferably one that doesn't form an azeotrope with THF) or perhaps even catalytic reduction of the double bond with Pd/C 5% and a hydrogen source.

That would be a nice way to make a useful solvent and org. synth precursor starting from OTC butane canisters as sold for blowtorches, lighter refills, camping stoves, etc etc.

What about it?

[P-man]

Sounds good but hard to make.