The invention discloses a synthesis method for 3,3',4,4'-biphenyltetracarboxylic acid. The synthesis method comprises the following steps: with 4,4'-dimethyl
biphenyl as a starting
raw material, subjecting the 4,4'-dimethyl
biphenyl and cyclic anhydride as shown in a formula I which is described in the specification to a Friedel-Crafts
acylation reaction so as to obtain an intermediate II, and carrying out an oxidation reaction so as to obtain the 3,3',4,4'-biphenyltetracarboxylic acid, wherein the cyclic anhydride as shown in the formula I is selected from the group consisting of
succinic anhydride,
glutaric anhydride, adipic anhydride and
maleic anhydride. The method provided by the invention does not need an expensive catalytic
system, so the production cost of synthesizing the 3,3',4,4'-biphenyltetracarboxylic acid is greatly reduced; the method provided by the invention is simple to operate, mild in
reaction conditions, less in three wastes, easy in
wastewater treatment and friendly to the environment; and the
raw material, namely the 4,4'-dimethyl
biphenyl adopted in the method provided by the invention is a byproduct of a medical intermediate, namely sartan biphenyl, and theproduction amount of the byproduct accounts for about 10% of the production amount of the sartan biphenyl, so the waste can be turned into treasure after the byproduct is applied to synthesis of the3,3',4,4'-biphenyltetracarboxylic acid.