Cyclic dianhydrides prepared from maleic anhydride

As a composition of matter, a cycloaliphatic tetracarboxylic acid dianhydride of the structure ##STR25## wherein R is an alkylene group of from 2 to 20 carbon atoms linked together to form a ring, and R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are individually selected from the group consisting of alkylene groups of from 1 to 10 carbon atoms and aralkylene groups of from 8 to 20 carbon atoms with the provision that hydrocarbon moieties of said groups can contain stable linkages selected from the groups consisting of --O--, ##STR26## --SO--, --SO.sub.2 --, and --S-- radicals.

As a composition of matter, a cycloaliphatic tetracarboxylic acid dianhydride prepared by photocyclo-addition of a maleic anhydride compound of the structural formula ##STR27## wherein R is individually selected from the group consisting of alkyl moieties of from 1 to 10 carbon atoms and alkylene moieties of from 2 to 20 carbon atoms linked together to form a ring, to at least one diolefin selected from the group consisting of alpha-, omega-linear diolefins of 4 to 100 carbon atoms and cyclic diolefins of the structure ##STR28## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are individually selected from the group consisting of alkylene groups of from 1 to 100 carbon atoms and aralkylene groups of from 8 to 20 carbon atoms with the provision that hydrocarbon moieties of said diolefins can contain stable linkages selected from the group consisting of --O--, ##STR29## --SO--, --SO.sub.2 --, and --S-- radicals in the presence of an ultra-violet light sensitizer using actinic radiation as an energy source at a temperature from about -10.degree. C. to about 150.degree. C.