General description

Glutaric acid is a pentanedioic acid. On exposure to X-rays, glutaric acid crystals generate two stable free radicals. These free radicals have been investigated by electron nuclear double resonance (ENDOR) technique. Presence of glutaric acid in urine and plasma is an indicator of type I glutaric aciduria (GA-I).

Glutaric acid is an aliphatic acid used as building block for the synthesis of polyesters, and polyamides.

Glutaric acid (Pentanedioic Acid) is a linear dicarboxylic acid. It has been prepared by oxidizing cyclopentane, cyclopentanol and cyclopentanone.

Glutaric acid is formed as an intermediate during the catabolism of lysine in mammals. Electron spin resonance spectra of radical (CO₂H)CH₂CH₂CH(CO₂H formed in glutaric acid crystal after γ-irradiation is reported to remains trapped in it. Polymorphism of Glycine-glutaric acid co-crystals has been studied by single crystal X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy.

Application

Glutaric acid may be employed as starting reagent in the synthesis of glutaric anhydride.

Glutaric acid may be used for the following studies:

Complexation with DL-lysine. Complexes have been reported to possess zwitterionic lysinium ions (positively charged) and semi-glutarate ions (negatively charged).
Synthesis of complexes with L-arginine and L-histidine.
Preparation of glycine-glutaric acid co-crystals. Phase transition studies of these cocrystals have been reported by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, polarized Raman spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry.