The invention discloses a method for synthesizing a pyrrolidone compound by
reductive amination of
biomass-based
levulinic acid and derivatives thereof, which comprises the following steps: taking a stainless steel high-temperature reaction kettle as a reaction container, respectively adding 0.5-20 mmol of
biomass-based
levulinic acid or derivatives thereof, 10-200 mg of catalyst and 0.1-1 mL of
ammonia water into 5-10 mL of
solvent, and sealing the reaction container, the
mass concentration of the
ammonia water is 28%; the method comprises the following steps: introducing
hydrogen into a stainless steel high-temperature reaction kettle, pressurizing to 0.1-5 MPa, reacting at 40-120 DEG C for 0.1-8 hours, putting the reaction kettle into water, cooling to
room temperature, deflating, additionally adding 0.5-5 mmol of
toluene as an
internal standard, and carrying out
solid-liquid separation by using a
needle type organic filter to obtain the target product 5-methyl-N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone. The method has the advantages of simple
reaction system, mild conditions, no
pollution to the environment, high efficiency, energy saving, low cost, few byproducts, high yield and
high selectivity, and can realize green
closed loop from raw materials to products.