DEHYDRATION OF ITACONIC ACID

摘要

A process is disclosed for the dehydration of itaconic acid, said process comprising the step of heating itaconic acid to a temperature between 90 DEG and 400 DEG C in the presence of 0.1 to 50 wt%, based on itaconic acid, of C1-C10 alkane sulphonic acid, the alkane group being optionally substituted with one or more halogen groups, for a time period sufficient to dehydrate at least some itaconic acid. The process according to the present invention proceeds rapidly and results in high conversions and high yields of either itaconic anhydride or citraconic anhydride.