Sodium acetylacetonate is an organic compound with the nominal formula Na[CH(C(O)CH<sub>3</sub>)<sub>2</sub>]. This white, water-soluble solid is the conjugate base of acetylacetone.
The compound is prepared by deprotonation of acetylacetone:
The anhydrous compound is produced by deprotonation with sodium hydride in an aprotic solvent such as THF:
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.
The structure of the monohydrate has been established by X-ray crystallography. The sodium cation is bonded to the enolate oxygen centers.