Abstract
A method was investigated for the synthesis of (α-methylbenzyl) succinic acid (VII) by dehydration, hydrolysis, and hydrogenation of 3-(α-methylbenzyl) malic acid (XI). Dehydration of 3-(α-methylbenzyl) malic acid (XI) by boiling with acetic anhydride yielded cis- and trans-isomers of (α-methylbenzylidene) succinic anhydride (XII) and (α-methylbenzyl) maleic anhydride (XIII), which were converted to the corresponding dicarboxylic acids by hydrolysis with water.
