Succinaldehyde or succindialdehyde is an organic compound with the formula (C2H4(CHO)2. It is a colorless viscous liquid. Typical of some other saturated dialdehydes, succinaldehyde is handled as the hydrates or methanol-derived acetal. It is a precursor to tropinone. Succinaldehyde can be used as a crosslinking agent for proteins, but it is less widely used than the related dialdehyde glutaraldehyde.

Preparation and reactions

Succinaldehyde is generated by the oxidation of tetrahydrofuran with chlorine followed by hydrolysis of the chlorinated product. It can also be prepared by the hydroformylation of acrolein or the acetals thereof. Oxidation of 2,5-dimethoxytetrahydrofuran with hydrogen peroxide is yet another route to succinaldehyde. In the presence of water, succinaldehyde converts to the cyclic hydrate. In methanol it converts to the cyclic acetal, 2,5-dimethoxyltetrahydrofuran.