Maleic Anhydride is an amoebic admixture with the blueprint C2H2(CO)2O. It is the acid
anhydride of maleic acid and in its authentic accompaniment is a achromatic or
white solid with an acid odor.
Maleic
anhydride was commonly bogus by the blaze of benzene or added ambrosial
compounds. As of 2006, alone a few abate plants abide to use benzene; due to
ascent benzene prices, a lot of maleic anhydride plants now use n-butane as a
feedstock.
The
allure of maleic anhydride is actual rich, absorption its accessible
availability and bifunctional reactivity. It hydrolyzes, bearing maleic acid,
cis-HOOC–CH=CH–COOH. With alcohols such as methanol, the half-ester is
generated, e.g., cis-HOOC–CH=CH–COOCH3.
Maleic
anhydride is a almighty dienophile in Diels-Alder reactions. It is aswell a
ligand for low-valent metal complexes, examples getting Pt(PPh3)2(MA) and
Fe(CO)4(MA).
Maleic
anhydride dimerizes in a photochemical acknowledgment to anatomy cyclobutane
tetracarboxylic dianhydride (CBTA). The admixture is used in the assembly of
polyimides and as an alignment blur for aqueous clear displays.
