Diketene | |
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4-methylideneoxetan-2-one |
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Other names
γ-methylenebutyrolactone |
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Identifiers | |
CAS number | 674-82-8 |
ChemSpider | 12140 |
Jmol-3D images | Image 1 |
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Properties | |
Molecular formula | C4H4O2 |
Molar mass | 84.08 g mol−1 |
Density | 1.09 g cm−3 |
Melting point |
−7 °C |
Boiling point |
127 °C |
(verify) (what is: / ?) Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa) |
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Infobox references |
Diketene is an organic compound formed by dimerization of ketene. Diketene is a member of the oxetane family. It is used as a chemical reagent in organic chemistry.[1] It is a colorless liquid and heating regenerates the ketene monomer. Alkylated ketenes also dimerize with ease and form substituted diketenes.
Diketene readily hydrolyses in water forming acetoacetic acid, its half-life in pure water is approximately 45 minutes a 25 °C at 2<pH<7.[2] Diketene also reacts with alcohols and amines to the corresponding acetoacetic acid derivatives. An example is the reaction with 2-aminoindane:[3]
Despite its high reactivity as an alkylating agent, and unlike analogue β-lactones propiolactone and β-butyrolactone, diketene is inactive as a carcinogen, possibly due to the instability of its DNA adducts.[4]
Diketene is an important industrial intermediate used for the production of acetoacetate esters and amides as well as substituted 1-phenyl-3-methylpyrazolones. The latter are used in the manufacture of dyestuffs and pigments.[5]
Certain diketenes with two aliphatic chains, such as alkyl ketene dimer (AKD), are used industrially to improve hydrophobicity in paper.