1,2,3,4-Butanetetracarboxylic acid is an organic compound with the formula . It is one of the simplest stable tetracarboxylic acids. The compound exists as two diastereomers, meso and the (R,R)/(S,S) pair. All are white solids. The compound is produced by oxidation of tetrahydrophthalic anhydride.
Among the several possible uses, it has been repeatedly investigated in the textile industry, e.g., for permanent press clothing. As expected for a polycarboxylate, it binds zinc to afford coordination polymers.
It forms a dianhydride (RN 4534-73-0), which consists of two succinic anhydride-like rings.