white crystalline low melting mass or liquid
Dimethyl itaconate can be used for the rhodium catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of (S)-dimethyl-2-methylsuccinate and (R)-methyl succinic acid dimethyl ester.
Dimethyl itaconate may be used in functionalization of isotactic poly(propylene). It was used in crosslinking of polyesters: poly(isosorbide itaconate)and poly(isosorbide itaconate-co-succinate).
Dimethyl Itaconate is a chemical reagent used in the synthesis of functionalized 2-isoxazolines used in fragment-based drug discovery.
Dimethyl itaconate undergoes enantioselective Rh(I)-catalyzed hydrogenation which can be enhanced by appropriate choice of substituents on aromatic ring of (1,2-diarylphosphinoxy)cyclohexane.
Flammability and Explosibility
Non flammable
Crystallise the ester from MeOH by cooling to -78o. [Beilstein 2 IV 2229.]