An Efficient Synthesis of Dimethylmaleic Anhydride [1]

Abstract

A facile three-step synthesis of dimethylmaleic anhydride (8) with 74% overall yield has been described starting from maleimide 1, via methylmaleimide 4, using two Wittig reactions followed by an alkaline hydrolysis.

Key words

maleic anhydride - maleimide, formaldehyde - condensation - alkylations - Wittig reactions

1

NCL Communication No. 6619.

References and Notes

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1

NCL Communication No. 6619.

23

The reaction of TPP-maleic anhydride adduct with aldehydes is known to produce corresponding fulgides while TPP-methylmaleic anhydride adduct does not react with aldehydes. [4d] [22]