2-Phenylmaleic Anhydride

The title compound, C₁₀H₆O₃, has been studied by both X-ray diffraction and molecular-mechanics calculations to determine the ring-ring dihedral angle. Calculated and observed values of 5.4 and 5.53 (6)° for this dihedral angle in the crystal were found to be in good agreement; these values were quite different from the calculated value of 40° for the gas-phase structure.

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