Lanthanum acetylacetonate refers to the coordination complex with the formula . This anhydrous acetylacetonate complex has not been characterized well, but the dihydrate has been characterized by X-ray crystallography.
Upon heating under vacuum, the dihydrate converts to the oxo-cluster . This behavior is also observed for erbium, yttrium, gadolinium, and europium.
The instability constants (logY<sub>n</sub>) are 3.65, 5.13 and 6.12 (corresponding to n=1, 2, 3) have been reported for "La(acac)<sub>3</sub>". It can be prepared by the reaction of lanthanum alkoxide and acetylacetone. Its tetrahydrate decomposes into monohydrate at 110 ðC, obtains the anhydrous form at 150 ðC, undergoes La(CH<sub>3</sub>COO)(acac)<sub>2</sub> and La(CH<sub>3</sub>COO)<sub>2</sub>(acac), and at 180~285 ðC lanthanum acetate is produced. It can be used to prepare NaLaS<sub>2</sub>, La<sub>2</sub>Zr<sub>2</sub>O<sub>7</sub> and other materials.