this invention relates to synthesis of 3 methyl tetrahydrofuran from alpha methylene gamma butyrolactone reactant more specifically this invention relates to synthesis of 3 methyl tetrahydrofuran in a two step continuous process from alpha methylene gamma butyrolactone which is free from an alcohol as a side product the final product does not need separation or purification of alcohol owing to the high temperature of the catalytic reactions greater than 150 u00b0 c previous attempts to directly convert alpha methylene gamma butyrolactone to 3 methyl tetrahydrofuran have resulted in the formation of a polymer of methylene gamma butyrolactone monomer therefore an improved process to synthesize 3 methyl tetrahydrofuran was desired a process for making 3 methyl tetrahydrofuran from an acid catalyzed two step hydrogenation of alpha methylene gamma butyrolactone is disclosed in a preferred embodiment the hydrogenation of alpha methylene gamma butyrolactone is carried out in two steps wherein first alpha methylene gamma butyrolactone is hydrogenated to 2 methyl gamma butyrolactone and second 2 methyl gamma butyrolactone is further reduced hydrogenated to final product in the first step of the process the methylene double bond of the alpha methylene gamma butyrolactone reactant is hydrogenated to yield 2 methyl gamma butyrolactone as the intermediate product this reaction is carried out under mild conditions to avoid the formation of poly alpha methylene gamma butyrolactone a metal catalyst with or without a support may be present to effect the hydrogenation reaction an acid material may optionally be used as a promoter to aid the reaction.