reflux condenser mechanical stirrer and thermometer was added water 300 ml lithium hydroxide monohydrate 17 7 g 421 mmol and cis hexahydrophthalic anhydride 30 8 g 200 mmol after heating at reflux for 3 hours the reaction mixture was cooled and then poured into acetone 500 ml no precipitate formed and the solvents were removed by rotary evaporation to give a white powder the powder was washed on a filter with 50 ml of cold water and the solid was dried in a vacuum oven at 85 u00b0 c overnight the dry weight as about 37 grams 100 with a melting point greater than about 350 u00b0 c ir and nmr analysis were consistent with that of the expected product to a 500 ml round bottom flask with a mechanical stirrer was added cis disodium hhpa 10 g 46 2 mmol and water 100 ml when homogeneity was obtained a solution of aluminum sulfate 15 4 g 23 mmol in water 100 ml was added at which time a white flocculate formed immediately after stirring at 50 u00b0 c for 30 minutes the ph was adjusted to 9 the white solid was collected via suction filtration washed with water 200 ml and dried in a vacuum oven overnight at 100 u00b0 c the dry weight equaled 8 7 grams 88 with a melting point of greater than about 400 u00b0 c ir and nmr analysis were consistent with that of the expected structure to a 500 ml erlenmeyer flask with a magnetic stirring bar was added.