In chemistry, 1,4-benzoquinonetetracarboxylic acid is an organic compound with formula, or (C6O2)(-(CO)OH)4, which can be viewed as deriving from para-benzoquinone through replacement of the four hydrogen atoms by carboxyl functional groups -(CO)OH.
By removal of four protons, the acid is expected to yield the anion, benzoquinonetetracarboxylate, which is one of the oxocarbon anions (consisting solely of oxygen and carbon). By loss of 1 through 3 protons, it forms the anions,, and, called respectively trihydrogen-, dihydrogen-, and hydrogenbenzoquinonetetracarboxylate. The same names are used for the corresponding esters.
Removal of two water molecules gives the compound benzoquinonetetracarboxylic dianhydride,, one of the oxides of carbon.[1]
The acid can be obtained by from durene (1,2,4,5-tetramethylbenzene) via dinitropyromellitic anddiaminopyromellitic acids.[2] [3] [4]