3185. Dihydroxymaleic Acid

Nomenclature

CAS number: 526-84-1
(Z)-2,3-Dihydroxy-2-butenedioic acid; 1,2-dihydroxyethylenedicarboxylic acid.
C4H4O6; mol wt 148.07.
C 32.45%, H 2.72%, O 64.83%.

Description and references

Prepn from tartaric acid: Fenton, J. Chem. Soc. 87, 811 (1905); Nef, Ann. 357, 291 (1907).

Properties

Plates from water, usually crystallizes as the dihydrate. The anhydr acid dec 155° without melting. Slightly sol in cold water, ether, acetic acid; more sol in alcohol. Aq solns are unstable.

Use

In the detection of fluorides and of titanium. Has been proposed as antioxidant for frozen foods.