Maleamic acid


Maleamic acid is an organic compound with the formula. It is the amide formed by reaction of maleic anhydride with ammonia. It is a colorless solid. Maleamic acid is the product of the action of the enzyme maleimide hydrolase.

Related compounds

A variety of maleamic acids are known. Commonly they are prepared by the reaction of an amine with maleic anhydride.
Aside from maleic anhydride, other common cyclic anhydrides undergo ring-opening to give amido carboxylic acids. Succinic anhydride gives succinamic acid, citraconic anhydride gives two isomers of citraconamic acid, and phthalimide gives phthalamidic acid.