Canadian Medical Guide > Chemicals and Drugs > Organic Chemicals > Anhydrides Terms and Definitions

Anhydrides

	Acetic Anhydrides - Compounds used extensively as acetylation, oxidation and dehydrating agents and in the modification of proteins and enzymes.
	Citraconic Anhydrides - Methylmaleic anhydrides.
	Maleic Anhydrides - Used in copolymerization reactions, in the Diels-Alder(diene)synthesis, in the preparation of resins, pharmaceuticals and agricultural chemicals. It is a powerful irritant and causes burns.
	Phthalic Anhydrides - Phthalic acid anhydrides. Can be substituted on any carbon atom. Used extensively in industry and as a reagent in the acylation of amino- and hydroxyl groups.
	Succinic Anhydrides - A subclass of anhydrides with the general structure of dihydrofurandione. They can be substituted on any carbon atom. They modify and inhibit proteins and enzymes and are used in the acylation of amino- and hydroxyl groups.

Anhydrides Medical Definitions and Terms