对光敏感。有吸湿性。在常压下蒸馏几乎不分解，长时间加热则失去水分子而成不饱和的γ-内酯。极易溶于水、醇和和醚，几乎不溶于脂肪族烃类。低毒，半数致死量(大鼠，经口)1850mg/kg。 生化研究。制造酯类和药物。叶绿素合成的抑制剂。 Levulinic acid, an organic acid, is mainly used as a cigarette additive. Biochemical research. Make esters and drugs. It is an inhibitor of chlorophyll synthesis. Levulinic acid is a precursor for the synthesis of useful intermediates such as γ-valerolactone, ethyl levulinate, pentanoic acid and 2-methyl-tetrahydrofuran. Derivatization and esterification of levulinic acid results in potential biofuels. It can also be used in: The preparation of catalytic composite to synthesize 5-hydroxymethylfurfural and furfural. The synthesis of a commercial fragrance, fraistone. The synthesis of pyrrolidone derivatives via reductive amination. The total synthesis of mycobacterial arabinogalactan.