Developer site: The content shown here is test data.

MyEClinic
MyEClinic
Health Dictionary AI Health Chat Find an Online Doctor
A serene Zen garden with raked sand and smooth stones, symbolising clarity and calm

Health Dictionary

Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.

Back to skin conditions

Propanoic anhydride

Introduction

Propanoic anhydride, also called propionic anhydride, is a simple acid anhydride. With the chemical formula (CH3CH2CO)2O, it is a widely used reagent in organic synthesis.

Synthesis

Synthesis

Propionic anhydride has been prepared by dehydration of propionic acid using ketene:[1]

2 CH3CH2CO2H + CH2=C=O → (CH3CH2CO)2O + CH3CO2H
Safety

Safety

Propanoic anhydride is strong smelling and corrosive, and will cause burns on contact with skin. Vapour can burn eyes and lungs.

Legal Status

Due to its potential use as a precursor in the synthesis of fentanyl and fentanyl analogs, propanoic anhydride is regulated by the United States Drug Enforcement Agency as a List I chemical under the Controlled Substances Act.[2]

References

References

  1. ↑ Williams, J. W. Krynitsky, J. A. “n-Caproic Anhydride” Organic Syntheses, Collected Volume 3, page 164ff (1955). http://www.orgsyn.org/orgsyn/pdfs/CV3P0164.pdf.
  2. ↑ http://www.dea.gov/pubs/abuse/2-chem.htm