Hypochlorite treatment of a simulated food-processing mixture produces 3, 4- dichloromaleimide and 3, 3-dichloro-4-(dichloromethylene)-2, 5-pyrrolidinedione (C5HCl4NO2). The tetrachloro compound and two analogs, which can be synthesized from citraconic anhydride and itaconic anhydride, are direct-acting Ames mutagens in Salmonella typhimurium TA100 tester strain. These novel five-carbon cyclic imides are structurally ...
