4-(Hydroxyamino)-4-oxobutanoic acid

Preparation

To a refluxing solution of 5.0 gm (0.05 mole) of succinic anhydride in 100 ml of benzene is added a solution of 6.3 gm (0.05 mole) of O-ben- zylhydroxylamine in 20 ml of benzene. As soon as the addition has been completed, the reaction mixture is cooled, and the precipitated product is separated. Upon recrystallization from a benzene-methyl ethyl ketone mixture, 7.6 gm (68.2%) of N-benzyloxysuccinamic acid, m.p. 95-96°C isolated.
A suspension of 4.3 gm (0.0193 mole) of this intermediate and a stron- tium carbonate catalyst containing 5% palladium in methyl ethyl ketone is hydrogenated. Upon working up the reaction mixture, 1.45 gm (56.7%) of succinomonohydroxamic acid, m.p. 95-96°C is isolated.