diketene

chemical compound

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June 25, 2026

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Diketene is an unsaturated, pungent liquid lactone with the chemical formula C₄H₄O₂. It is formed by the spontaneous dimerization of ketene in solution. Ketene itself is an organic compound containing the functional grouping C=C=O.12

Diketene is primarily used in the creation of derivatives of acetoacetic acid, such as ethyl acetoacetate and acetoacetamides. Ketene, the precursor to diketene, is highly reactive and is used industrially to produce acetic anhydride. Ketene is prepared by heating acetic acid or acetone to high temperatures. While ketene is toxic and can cause respiratory damage, diketene is used industrially as a chemical intermediate.2

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lactone
Commercially important lactones include diketene and β-propanolactone used in the synthesis of acetoacetic acid derivatives and β-substituted propanoic (propionic) acids, respectively; the perfume ingredients pentadecanolide and ambrettolide; vitamin C; and the antibiotics methymycin, erythromycin, and carbomycin.
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Commercially important lactones include diketene and β-propanolactone used in the synthesis of acetoacetic acid derivatives and β-substituted propanoic (propionic) acids, respectively; the perfume ingredients pentadecanolide and ambrettolide; vitamin C; and the antibiotics methymycin, erythromycin, and carbomycin.
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