不对称取代的戊烯二酸存在于若干天然产物中。a-,β-或γ-取代的戊烯二酸及其酯类有双键互变异构和立体异构现象,其结构问题曾引起化学家们的很大兴趣.这类二酸及其酯还具有多官能团的特点,可以用于较复杂的分子的合成,例如用取代的戊烯二酸酯与适当的醛缩合,可以立体选择性地生成具有保幼激素活性的昆虫生长调节剂. Asymmetrically substituted glutaconic acid is present in several natural products. A-, β-, or γ-substituted glutaconic acid and its esters have double bond tautomerism and stereoisomerism, and structural problems have attracted great interest among chemists. Such diacids and their esters Esters are also multifunctional and can be used for the synthesis of more complex molecules. For example, the substitution of a substituted glutaconate with an appropriate aldehyde allows the stereoselective production of insect growth regulators with juvenile hormone activity.