glutaric acid

chemical compound

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June 29, 2026

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Glutaric acid is a crystalline acid with the chemical formula C₅H₈O₄. It is primarily used in organic synthesis.1

It is important to distinguish glutaric acid from glutamic acid, which is an amino acid produced from protein hydrolysis and is a metabolic intermediate. Glutamic acid's salt, monosodium glutamate (MSG), is used as a food flavoring.2

Another related compound is ketoglutaric acid, which exists as two crystalline keto derivatives of glutaric acid. The alpha keto isomer is particularly notable as it is formed in various metabolic processes, including the Krebs cycle.3

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carboxylic acid
Polycarboxylic acids
Glutaric acid, with five carbon atoms, behaves similarly to yield glutaric anhydride. These reactions produce five- and six-membered rings, respectively, which are in general the easiest ring sizes to produce. Because adipic (six carbons) and longer-chain dicarboxylic acids would give rings of seven or more…
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Glutaric acid, with five carbon atoms, behaves similarly to yield glutaric anhydride. These reactions produce five- and six-membered rings, respectively, which are in general the easiest ring sizes to produce. Because adipic (six carbons) and longer-chain dicarboxylic acids would give rings of seven or more…
Read More