Terephthalic acid is benzene substituted with a carboxylic acid group in the 1 and 4 positions. Phthalic acid is substituted in the 1 and 2 positions.
The easiest way I can think of to go from terephthalic acid to phthalic acid, would be to get rid of both of the carboxylic acid groups (to make
benzene), then put them back on. But again, why?
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