In organic chemistry, a tricarbonate is a compound containing the divalent −O−C(=O)−O−C(=O)−O−C(=O)−O− functional group, which consists of three carbonate groups linked in a chain by sharing of oxygen atoms. These compounds can be viewed as derivatives of a hypothetical tricarbonic acid, HO−C(=O)−O−C(=O)−O−C(=O)−OH. An important example is di-tert-butyl tricarbonate (H₃C−)₃C−C₃O₇−C(−CH₃)₃, an intermediate in the synthesis of di-tert-butyl dicarbonate.^[1]

Tricarbonate ion

Names
IUPAC name Tricarbonate
Properties
Chemical formula	C3O2−7
Molar mass	148.026 g·mol−1
Structure
Molecular shape	Trigonal planar at carbon atoms
Related compounds
Related compounds	Carbonate Bicarbonate Dicarbonate
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). Infobox references

The term tricarbonate is sometimes used for salts that contain three carbonate dianions in their covalent structure or stoichiometric formula, such as cerium tricarbonate Ce₂(CO₃)₃.