Tetraacetylethane
# Tetraacetylethane

Tetraacetylethane is the organic compound with the nominal formula $[CH(C(O)CH_3)_2]_2.$ It is a white solid that has attracted interest as a precursor to heterocycles and metal complexes. It is prepared by oxidation of sodium acetylacetonate:

    $I_2$ + 2 $NaCH(C(O)CH_3)_2$ → $[CH(C(O)CH_3)_2]_2$ + 2 NaI

Reminiscent of the case of acetylacetone, tetraacetylethane exists as the enol, as established by X-ray crystallography. The two $C_3O_2H$ rings are twisted with a dihedral angle near 90°.

Many metal complexes have been prepared from the conjugate base of this ligand. One example is diruthenium(III) derivative $[Ru(acac)_2]_2[C(C(O)CH_3)_2]_2,$ which is closely related to ruthenium(III) acetylacetonate.

