Anhydrides come from condensing two molecules of carboxylic acids. The condensation of two molecules of the same acid gives rise to symmetrical anhydrides, which are named by replacing the word acid with anhydride .

anhydride nomenclature1

[1] Ethanoic anhydride

[2] Propanoic anhydride

[3] Benzoic anhydride

Asymmetric anhydrides -formed from two different acids- are named by citing the acids alphabetically.

anhydride nomenclature2

[4] Ethanoic propanoic anhydride

[5] Ethanoic benzoic anhydride


Cyclic anhydrides—formed by cyclization of a diacid—are named by changing the word acid to anhydride and ending the name en- dioic .

anhydride nomenclature3

[6] Butanedioic Anhydride (Succinic Anhydride)

[7]  Pentanedioic anhydride

[8] Butenedioic Anhydride (Maleic Anhydride)