Maleic anhydride

Maleic anhydride is a cyclic organic acid anhydride with formula C₄H₂O₃. Its reactive double bond and anhydride group make it a versatile industrial chemical intermediate.

Hydrolysis: A chemical reaction in which a molecule is cleaved by water. Water opens maleic anhydride’s ring to form maleic acid.
Unsaturated polyester resin: A thermosetting polymer made from unsaturated polyesters and a cross-linking monomer. Maleic anhydride supplies unsaturated units in many resin formulations.
Benzene: An aromatic hydrocarbon with formula C₆H₆ and a six-carbon ring. Early industrial maleic anhydride production oxidized this feedstock.
Occupational asthma: Asthma caused or worsened by exposures encountered in the workplace. Airborne maleic anhydride can trigger respiratory sensitization and occupational asthma.
Diels–Alder reaction: A cycloaddition that joins a conjugated diene and an alkene to form a six-membered ring. Maleic anhydride’s electron-poor double bond makes it a useful dienophile.
1,4-Butanediol: A four-carbon diol used to make polymers and other industrial chemicals. Maleic anhydride is one feedstock route to this industrial intermediate.
n-Butane: A four-carbon alkane with an unbranched structure. Catalytic oxidation of n-butane is the principal modern production route.
Chemical burns: Tissue injuries caused by contact with corrosive or reactive chemicals. Moisture converts maleic anhydride into an acidic solution that can injure skin and eyes.
Isomerization: A chemical process that converts a molecule into another structure with the same molecular formula. Industrial catalysts convert maleic anhydride into the more stable fumaric acid.
Tetrahydrofuran: A cyclic ether used as an industrial solvent and chemical intermediate. Some production routes make it through hydrogenation of maleic anhydride derivatives.

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