Diethyl succinate

Diethyl succinate is the diethyl ester of succinate.

It is a colorless liquid with the formula (CH2CO2Et)2 (Et = ethyl). The organic molecule contains two ester groups. This ester is a versatile chemical intermediate. A colorless liquid, diethyl succinate is formed by Fischer esterification of succinic acid and ethanol.

Reactions
Being a diester, diethyl succinate is a particularly versatile building block. It participates in acyloin condensation to give 2-hydroxycyclobutanone. Via condensation with oxalate esters, it serves as a precursor to ketoglutaric acid. It is a reagent in the Stobbe condensation.