The crystal structure of maleic anhydride

Abstract

The crystal structure of maleic anhydride, C4H20 a, has been determined and refined by an analysis of three-dimensional X-ray diffraction data. The crystals are orthorhombie with space group P212121 ; the cell dimensions are: a=7-180+0.008, b=11.231_+0.015, c-5.39_+0.03 /~. The maleic anhydride molecule is slightly non-planar, the oxygen atom within the five-membered ring lying 0-03 A from the plane of the other atoms. The nearest intermolecule neighbors are hydrogen and oxygen atoms, hut, there is no evidence of C~H • • • O hydrogen bonds.