Itaconic acid

Itaconic acid, or methylenesuccinic acid, is an organic compound that is one of the three acids obtained by the distillation of citric acid. Itaconic acid is a white crystalline powder that is soluble in water, ethanol and acetone.

The name itaconic was devised as an anagram of aconitic.

The other two acids formed from the distillation of citric acid are citraconic and mesaconic acids.