Citraconic_anhydride
Citraconic acid
Chemical compound
Citraconic acid is an organic compound with the formula CH3C2H(CO2H)2. It is a white solid. The alkene is cis. The related trans alkene is called mesaconic acid. It is one of the pyrocitric acids formed upon the heating of citric acid.[1] Citraconic acid can be produced, albeit inefficiently, by oxidation of xylene and methylbutanols. The acid displays the unusual property of spontaneously forming the anhydride, which, unlike maleic anhydride, is a liquid at room temperature.[2]
In the laboratory, citraconic acid can be produced by thermal isomerization of itaconic acid anhydride to give citraconic anhydride, which can be hydrolyzed to citraconic acid.[3] The required itaconic acid anhydride is obtained by dry distillation of citric acid.