stygian - 10-8-2005 at 17:36
can ethylene dibromide react with NaCN to form succindinitrile, that could then be hydrolysed to the acid?
praseodym - 10-8-2005 at 23:15
Can succinic acid also be formed by oxidising ethylene glycol?
sparkgap - 11-8-2005 at 02:37
stygian:
Yes, but I must remind you that such reactions are best carried out in polar aprotic solvents like DMSO.
praseodym:
Ethylene glycol has TWO carbons, whilst succinic acid has FOUR carbons. Does this answer your question? 
sparky (^_^)
I am a fish - 11-8-2005 at 08:54
Stygian, do you want to make succinic acid for a specific reason? If so, it seems like a waste of two useful, virtually unbuyable and (in the case of
ethylene dibromide) expensive reagents. Buying succinic acid from a brewing/winemaking or alternative photography supplier would seem like a better
option.
[Edited on 11-8-2005 by I am a fish]
S.C. Wack - 11-8-2005 at 09:36
The library has all the answers. A handful of crazy altruists scanned some books that are actually useful for syntheses, such as Systematic Organic
Chemistry.