59. Acetoacetic Acid

Nomenclature

CAS number: 541-50-4
3-Oxobutanoic acid; diacetic acid; acetylacetic acid; acetonecarboxylic acid; 3-ketobutyric acid; 2-ketobutyric acid.
C4H6O3; mol wt 102.09.
C 47.06%, H 5.92%, O 47.02%.

Description and references

Prepd by hydrolysis of ethyl acetoacetate: Krueger, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 74, 5536 (1952).

Chemical structure

Properties

Crystals from ether, mp 36-37°. A strong, but unstable acid. At 100° violently decomposes into acetone and CO2. Miscible with water, alc.

Caution

Severely irritating to skin, mucous membranes.

Use

In organic syntheses.