Malonate

The malonate or propanedioate ion is CH2(COO)22&minus; (malonic acid minus two hydrogen ions). Malonate compounds include salts and esters of malonic acid, such as:


 * Diethyl malonate, (C2H5)2(C3H2O4)
 * Dimethyl malonate, (CH3)2(C3H2O4)
 * Disodium malonate, Na2(C3H2O4)

Malonate is a powerful inhibitor of cellular respiration, because it binds to the active site of the succinate dehydrogenase in the citric acid cycle but does not react, since it does not have the -CH2-CH2- group (as in succinate) which is required for dehydrogenation.