rac-2,3-Dibromosuccinic acid, C4H4Br2O4, is the product of the electrophili
c addition of bromine to maleic acid. Whereas the carboxyl groups and the b
romo ligands are in a gauche arrangement with respect to each other, the te
rtiary H atoms attached to the central C atoms are in a trans arrangement.
The hydroxyl groups form hydrogen bonds with the carbonyl O atoms of neighb
ouring molecules.