Sodium acetylacetonate
# Sodium acetylacetonate

Sodium acetylacetonate is an organic compound with the nominal formula $Na[CH(C(O)CH_3)_2].$ This white, water-soluble solid is the conjugate base of acetylacetone.

## Preparation

The compound is prepared by deprotonation of acetylacetone:

    NaOH + $CH_2(C(O)CH_3)_2$ → $NaCH(C(O)CH_3)_2$ + $H_2O$

The anhydrous compound is produced by deprotonation with sodium hydride in an aprotic solvent such as THF:

    NaH + $CH_2(C(O)CH_3)_2$ → $NaCH(C(O)CH_3)_2$ + $H_2$

## Reactions

Oxidation of the salt gives tetraacetylethane.

With metal salts, it reacts to give metal acetylacetonate complexes.

Alkylation of sodium acetylacetonate can result in both O-alkylation and C-alkylation. The former gives the enol ether and the latter gives 3-substituted derivative of acetylacetone.

## Structure

The structure of the monohydrate has been established by X-ray crystallography. The sodium cation is bonded to the enolate oxygen centers.

