Prepd by the reaction of maleic anhydride with
cyclopentadiene in benzene: Diels, Alder, Ann.460, 98 (1928). Crystal structure:
Destro et al.,Acta Crystallogr.25B, 2465 (1969).
Properties
Shiny, orthorhombic crystals from petr ether, mp 164-165°. d 1.417. Converted to
equilibrium mixtures with exo-cis isomers when heated above
mp. Sol in benzene, toluene, acetone, carbon tetrachloride, chloroform,
ethanol, ethyl acetate. Slightly sol in petr ether. Reacts with
water to form the corresponding acid. Forms the γ-lactone of 5-hydroxy-2,3-norcamphanedicarboxylic
acid in 50% H2SO4.