PROCESS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF SQUARIC ACID

摘要

A process is disclosed for the production of squaric acid by halogenation either of pure 3-acetoxy-2-cyclobuten-1-one or of a distillation residue of diketene production containing 3-acetoxy-2-cyclobuten-1-one, whereby to form a cyclobutenone of the formula: (II) wherein each R is identical in meaning and represents a chlorine or bromine atom, followed by hydrolysis of the cyclobutenone II to form squaric acid. The halogenated cyclobutenones are novel intermediate products in the process.