In organic synthesis it is used as a precursor for other substituted and ring-fused furans and butenolides. It is also forms the structural core of a class of pesticides known as tetronic acid insecticides which includes spirodiclofen and spiromesifen.

For R&D use onlynot for drug household or other uses.

Tetronic acid is a chemical compound classified as a -lactone with the molecular formula C4H4O3. It interconverts between keto and enol tautomers. Many natural products such as ascorbic acid (vitamin C) penicillic acid pulvinic acids and abyssomicins possess the -keto--butyrolactone motif of tetronic acid.