Acetic anhydride

Acetic anhydride (CH₃CO)₂O, also known as ethanoric anhydride, is a colorless liquid with a strong pungent odor. It has a boiling point of 140°C (284°F). It is soluble in cold water, decomposes in hot water to form acetic acid, and is soluble in alcohol, chloroform and ether. It is a highly corrosive flammable liquid with harmful vapour. Exposure to acetic anhydride can occur via eye or skin contact, ingestion and inhalation.

Suitable for the derivatization of acetaminophen, alcohols, amines, amino acids, arginyl peptides, aryl sulfate esters, carbamates, cerebrosides, cystine and cysteine (in peptides), desmethyldoxepin, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylglycol, hydroxamic acids, hydroxyamines, n-hydroxycarbamates, 4-methoxy and 3,4-dimethoxyphenethylamine, nucleosides bases and sugars, peptides, phenolalkylamines, phenylethylamines, phenylthiohydantoin amino acid, serotonin, and tryptamines.

Reagent for acetyl, o-acetyl, N-acetyl-N, permethyl acetyl, aryl acetate, β-carboline, methyl ester, acetyl or trifluoroacetyl phenylthihydantoins, n-trifluoroacetyl, bis-trimethylsilyl, trimethylsilyl polyamino alcohol, and O-trimethylsilyl (TMS).