a reactor the reactor provided included a suitably sized cylindrical jacketed glass reactor with mechanical agitator a contents temperature measurement device in contact with the contents of the reactor an inert gas inlet and a removable reflux condenser this mixture was heated by circulating heated oil in the reactor jacket and stirred vigorously at an internal temperature of about 65 70 u00b0 c this reaction was carried out over a period of about 5 hours at this point the contents of the reaction vessel were poured into 300 g water with vigorous mixing this gave a clear solution the solution was subjected to distillation at reduced pressure to drive off excess solvent and water after sufficient solvent and water have been removed the solid product of the reaction precipitates from the concentrated solution and is recovered the solids are subsequently dried in vacuo a schematic representation of this reaction is shown below this reaction was carried out in equipment similar to that used in example 1 above the following procedure was followed 847 g purified water was placed into the reactor next 172 g itaconic acid and 130 g maleic anhydride were added with vigorous stirring this mixture was heated to about 85 90 u00b0 c at which temperature this mixture exists as a clear solution when the mixture reached the desired temperature 15 g of potassium persulfate was added to the solution the reaction mixture was allowed to stir for 3 hours and a second portion of persulfate.