Use of fourier transform infrared spectroscopy to follow the heterocumulene aided thermal dehydration of phthalic and naphthalic acids.

Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy has been successfully employed to follow the formation of phthalic anhydride and 1,8-naphthalic anhydride on heating their corresponding acids. The effects of three heterocumulenes, cyanamide, dicyandiamide, and sodium cyanate, on the temperature of formation of the anhydrides were also investigated using this method. It was found that the carbodiimides cyanamide and dicyandiamide dramatically lowered the temperature at which thermal dehydration of the acid led to anhydride formation.

Micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography analysis of phthalic acid isomers.

A capillary electrophoretic method for the analysis and separation of ortho- and para-phthalic acid isomers was developed. The best separation was achieved using micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MECC) performed in a 110 mM borate buffer pH 8.3 also containing 40 mM sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and 20% methanol.