Tetraacetylethane is the organic compound with the nominal formula [CH(C(O)CH<sub>3</sub>)<sub>2</sub>]<sub>2</sub>. 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:
Reminiscent of the case of acetylacetone, tetraacetylethane exists as the enol, as established by X-ray crystallography. The two C<sub>3</sub>O<sub>2</sub>H rings are twisted with a dihedral angle near 90ð.
Many metal complexes have been prepared from the conjugate base of this ligand. One example is diruthenium(III) derivative [Ru(acac)<sub>2</sub>]<sub>2</sub>[C(C(O)CH<sub>3</sub>)<sub>2</sub>]<sub>2</sub>, which is closely related to ruthenium(III) acetylacetonate.