Phthalic Anhydride

Phthalic anhydride is the organic compound , It is the anhydride of phthalic acid. Phthalic anhydride is a principal commercial form of phthalic acid. It was the first anhydride of a dicarboxylic acid to be used commercially. This white solid is an important industrial chemical, especially for the large-scale production of plasticizers for plastics.

Applications:

Phthalic anhydride is a toxic, white crystalline compound used in the manufacture of phthaleins and other dyes, resins, plasticizers, and insecticides. Phthalic anhydride is the anhydride of phthalic acid. This colorless solid is an important industrial chemical, especially for the large–scale production of plasticizers for plastics. It is presently obtained by catalytic oxidation of ortho–xylene or naphthalene. Phthalic anhydride can also be prepared from phthalic acid.

Phthalic anhydride is a versatile intermediate in organic chemistry, in part because it is bifunctional and readily available. The primary use of phthalic anhydride (PA) is as a chemical intermediate in the production of plasticizers from polyvinyl chloride (PVC).