Itaconic

White crystals m.p. 162-164 C. ll can be prepared by the fermentation of sugar with the mould Aspergillus lerreus or by healing citra-conic anhydride with water at ISO C. Electrolysis of the potassium salt in solution gives allene. Itaconic acid is used as a comonomer in plastics its esters are polymerized to lubricating oils and plasticizers. 

CsHsO. Colourless, crystalline solid m.p. 115 C. Prepared by the dry distillation of tartaric acid or by reduction of itaconic or cilra-conic acids. Forms an anhydride when heated to 200"C. 

The reaction can be applied to allyl malonates. Alkylation of diallyl mal-onate (734) with bromoacetate and acetoxymethylation afford the mixed triester 735. Treatment of the tricster 735 with Pd catalyst affords allyl ethyl itaconate (736). In a similar way, a-methylene lactone and the lactam 737 can be prepared[462]. 

Cyclization. Constmction of ben2otrifluorides from aHphatic feedstocks represents a new technique with economic potential. For example, l,l,l-trichloro-2,2,2-trifluoroethane [354-58-5] and dimethyl itaconate [617-52-7] form 4-methoxy-6-trifluoromethyl-2JT-pyran-2-one [101640-70-4] which is converted to methyl 3-(trifluoromethyi)ben2oate [2557-13-3] ixh. acetjdene or norbomadiene (125). 

Itaconic 2Lcid[97-65-4] (methylenebutanedioic acid, methylenesuccinic acid) is a crystaUine, high, melting acid (mp = 167-168) produced commercially by fermentation of carbohydrates (1 4). Itaconic acid is produced in the broth from citric acid (qv). Isolated from the pyrolysis products of citric acid in 1836, this a-substituted acryUc acid received its name by rearrangement of aconitic, the acid from which it is formed by decarboxylation. 

Itaconic acid (1) is isomeric with citraconic [498-23-7] (2) and mesaconic [498-24-8] (3) acids. Under acidic, neutral, or mildly basic conditions and at moderate temperatures, itaconic acid is stable. At elevated temperatures or under strongly basic conditions, the isomers are interconvertible. 

Itaconic acid, anhydride, and mono- and diesters undergo vinyl polymerization. Rates of polymerization and intrinsic viscosities of the resulting homopolymers ate lower than those of the related acrylates (see Acrylic ester polymers) (8,9). 

Itaconic acid is a specialty monomer that affords performance advantages to certain polymeric coatings (qv) (see Polyesters, unsaturated). Emulsion stabihty, flow properties of the formulated coating, and adhesion to substrates are improved by the acid. Acrylonitrile fibers with low levels of the acid comonomer exhibit improved dye receptivity which allows mote efficient dyeing to deeper shades (see Acrylonitrile polymers Fibers, acrylic) (10,11). Itaconic acid has also been incorporated in PAN precursors of carbon and graphite fibers (qv) and into ethylene ionomers (qv) (12). 

Copolymers of diallyl itaconate [2767-99-9] with AJ-vinylpyrrolidinone and styrene have been proposed as oxygen-permeable contact lenses (qv) (77). Reactivity ratios have been studied ia the copolymerization of diallyl tartrate (78). A lens of a high refractive iadex n- = 1.63) and a heat distortion above 280°C has been reported for diallyl 2,6-naphthalene dicarboxylate [51223-57-5] (79). Diallyl chlorendate [3232-62-0] polymerized ia the presence of di-/-butyl peroxide gives a lens with a refractive iadex of n = 1.57 (80). Hardness as high as Rockwell 150 is obtained by polymerization of triaHyl trimeUitate [2694-54-4] initiated by benzoyl peroxide (81). 

DiaUyl fumarate polymerizes much more rapidly than diaUyl maleate. Because of its moderate reactivity, DAM is favored as a cross-linking and branching agent with some vinyl-type monomers (1). Cyclization from homopolymerizations in different concentrations in benzene has been investigated (91). DiaUyl itaconate and several other polyfunctional aUyl—vinyl monomers are available. 

Condensation with Aldehydes and Ketones. Succinic anhydride and succinic esters in the presence of different catalysts react in the gas phase with formaldehyde to give citraconic acid or anhydride and itaconic acid (94—96). Dialkyl acyl succinates are obtained by reaction of dialkyl succinates with C 4 aldehydes over peroxide catalysts (97). 

Fermentation Feedstock. Sucrose, in the form of beet or cane molasses, is a fermentation feedstock for production of a variety of organic compounds, including lactic, glutamic, and citric acids, glycerol, and some antibiotics. Lesser amounts of itaconic, aconitic, and kojic acids, as well as acetone and butanol, are also produced (41,51—53). Rum is made by fermentation of cane molasses. Beet and cane molasses are used for production of baker s and brewer s yeast (qv). 

Small concentrations of vinylcarboxyhc acids, eg, acryhc acid, methacrylic acid, or itaconic acid, are sometimes included to enhance adhesion of the polymer to the substrate. The abihty to crystalline and the extent of crystallization are reduced with increa sing concentration of the comonomers some commercial polymers do not crystalline. The most common lacquer resins are terpolymers of VDC—methyl methacrylate—acrylonitrile (162,163). The VDC level and the methyl methacrylate—acrylonitrile ratio are adjusted for the best balance of solubihty and permeabihty. These polymers exhibit a unique combination of high solubihty, low permeabihty, and rapid crystallization (164). 

A number of patents describe accelerators that will reduce the time required for stabilization (24,27,28). The accelerators are often inherent to the polymer or precursor but may be added to the gas phase during stabilization. For example, it is common to have an acid group present as comonomer such as itaconic acid [97-65-4] or methacrylic acid [79-41-4]. The acid groups provide initiation sites for cyclization. Alternatively, the stabilization atmosphere composition can be modified to accelerate stabilization (29). 

Decomposition. When heated above 175°C, citric acid decomposes to form aconitic acid [499-12-7] citraconic acid [498-25-7], itaconic acid [97-65 ], acetonedicarboxyhc acid [542-05-2], carbon dioxide, and water, as shown in Figure 1. 

Fig. 1. Thermal decomposition of citric acid (1) to aconitric acid (2), citraconic acid (3), itaconic acid (4), and oxidation to acetonedicarboxylic acid (5).

Fluoroalkyl Acrylates—Alethacrylates—Itaconates—AIesoconates. Fluoroalkyl acrylates have been copolymerized with alkyl acrylates... 

Methylsuccinic acid has been prepared by the pyrolysis of tartaric acid from 1,2-dibromopropane or allyl halides by the action of potassium cyanide followed by hydrolysis by reduction of itaconic, citraconic, and mesaconic acids by hydrolysis of ketovalerolactonecarboxylic acid by decarboxylation of 1,1,2-propane tricarboxylic acid by oxidation of /3-methylcyclo-hexanone by fusion of gamboge with alkali by hydrog. nation and condensation of sodium lactate over nickel oxide from acetoacetic ester by successive alkylation with a methyl halide and a monohaloacetic ester by hydrolysis of oi-methyl-o -oxalosuccinic ester or a-methyl-a -acetosuccinic ester by action of hot, concentrated potassium hydroxide upon methyl-succinaldehyde dioxime from the ammonium salt of a-methyl-butyric acid by oxidation with. hydrogen peroxide from /9-methyllevulinic acid by oxidation with dilute nitric acid or hypobromite from /J-methyladipic acid and from the decomposition products of glyceric acid and pyruvic acid. The method described above is a modification of that of Higginbotham and Lapworth. ... 

Itaconic acid (2-propen-l,2-dicarboxylic acid) [97-65-4] M 130.1, m 165-166 , pK, 3.63, pK 5.00. Crystd from EtOH, EtOH/water or EtOH/ benzene. 

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