Abstract: Study on three main synthetic routes of δ-valerolactone by cyclopentanone, 1, 5-pentanediol by furfuryl alcohol and tetrahydrofurfuryl and by tetrahydrofuran are reviewed using furfural as raw material. The synthesis of δ-valerolactone by other furfural derivatives is also described. The applications of δ-valerolactone in pharmaceutical intermediates and polyesters are summarized, which is used in pharmaceutical industry because its structure is widely found in bioactive and optically active compounds. It is easy to polymerize, and can also form polylactide with other compounds.The polymer has biocompatibility and biodegradability, which makes its application in the field of biodegradable materials attractive. Therefore the preparation of the δ-valerolactone production technology using furfural as raw material is a hot topic in the future.