mellitate

Mellitate refers to a salt or ester of mellitic acid. Mellitic acid, also known as benzenehexacarboxylic acid, is a chemical compound with the formula C6(CO2H)6. It is characterized by a benzene ring to which six carboxylic acid groups are attached. Mellitic acid itself is a white crystalline solid and is a relatively strong acid.

Salts of mellitic acid are formed when the acidic hydrogen atoms of the carboxylic acid groups are replaced by metal cations. For example, sodium mellitate would be a salt where sodium ions are bonded to the mellitate anion. Esters of mellitic acid are formed by reacting the carboxylic acid groups with alcohols. These esters, often referred to as mellitates, can have various chemical properties depending on the alcohol used.

Mellitic acid and its derivatives, including mellitates, are sometimes found in nature, particularly in certain types of coal and lignite. They can also be synthesized in laboratories. Due to the presence of multiple functional groups, mellitic acid and its mellitate salts and esters have been investigated for various applications, including use as ligands in coordination chemistry, in the synthesis of porous materials, and as potential components in advanced materials research. The specific properties and applications of mellitates are directly related to the nature of the cation in the salt or the alkyl/aryl group in the ester.