The hydrolysis of maleimide in alkaline solution

Abstract

The hydrolysis of maleimide has been investigated in the pH range 8.5–14. Polarographic limiting currents were well-defined, so that the bulk concentration of reactant during reduction could be clearly followed as a function of time. Logarithmic analysis of derived data indicated an arrest in the rate of reaction at circa pH 12, and a reaction scheme is proposed to explain this. In this scheme, the neutral maleimide molecule exists in equilibrium with its anion, and both of these species may undergo hydrolysis at the appropriate pH. From derived rate equations, the pKa of maleimide was found to be 10.0, whilst estimates of the rates of hydrolysis were also calculated.