Ethanediarboxyl

Ethanediarboxyl is a hypothetical chemical compound with the molecular formula C2O4. It is the dicarbonyl form of oxalic acid, where the hydroxyl groups of oxalic acid are replaced by carbonyl groups. Due to the instability of the C=O functional group in this arrangement, ethanediarboxyl is not a stable or commonly encountered molecule. Its existence is primarily in theoretical or highly reactive transient states. Research into similar dicarbonyl compounds suggests that if it were to form, it would likely be a very reactive species. The theoretical structure of ethanediarboxyl would involve a two-carbon chain with each carbon atom double-bonded to an oxygen atom. This arrangement is similar to glyoxal, which has the formula C2H2O2, but with two additional oxygen atoms. The properties of ethanediarboxyl, such as its reactivity and potential decomposition pathways, are largely speculative, as it has not been isolated or extensively studied. It is not a recognized chemical entity in standard chemical databases or literature, indicating its theoretical nature.