Uses
4-Methylphthalic anhydride (4-MPA) is mainly used as an important intermediate in the synthesis of herbicides, especially several cereal herbicides, and can also be used as an intermediate in the synthesis of dyes.
Chemical Properties
white to yellow-orange flakes or
Synthesis
The general procedure for the synthesis of 5-methylisobenzofuran-1,3-dione from 4-methylphthalic acid was as follows: 10.0 g of 4-methylphthalic acid and a solvent mixture consisting of 20 mL of N,N-dimethylacetamide, 100 mL of chlorobenzene, and 40 mL of toluene were added to a 300 mL three-necked flask at room temperature and under nitrogen protection. The reaction mixture was heated to 111 °C and the reaction was stirred at this temperature for 10 hours. Upon completion of the reaction, the solvent was removed by distillation under reduced pressure and the resulting crude product was washed with toluene and dispersed to give 3.6 g of 4-methylphthalic anhydride.
References
[1] Organic Letters, 2010, vol. 12, # 21, p. 4796 - 4799
[2] Monatshefte fuer Chemie, 1891, vol. 12, p. 626
[3] Patent: US2016/376285, 2016, A1. Location in patent: Paragraph 0121
