Acetoacetic Acid

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  • Identifiers

    CAS number
    541-50-4

    Molecular formula
    C4H6O3

    SMILES
    CC(=O)CC(=O)O

    Safety labels

  • Odor profile

    Fragrance
    Caramellic 59.3%
    Sour 55.28%
    Fruity 45.77%
    Burnt 43.38%
    Sharp 43.11%
    Sweet 41.03%
    Pungent 39.41%
    Buttery 38.54%
    Creamy 35.12%
    Cheesy 33.95%

     

    Flavor
    Sour 43.68%
    Sharp 43.57%
    Pungent 40.92%
    Acidic 40.85%
    Vinegar 40.0%
    Odorless 35.6%
    Rancid 31.18%
    Cheese 27.36%
    Sweat 25.6%
    Soy 24.76%

     

    Odor impact est.
    Medium

  • Properties

    XLogP3-AA
    -0.4

    pKa est.
    7.55 (neutral)

    Molecular weight
    102.09 g/mol

    Vapor pressure est.

    • hPa @ 20°C
    • hPa @ 25°C

    Evaporation rate
    Moderately slow

    Melting point expt.

    • 36.5 °C

    Boiling point

    • 237.00 to 239.00 °C. @ 760.00 mm Hg

    Flash point

    • 104.25 ˚C est.

    Solubility expt.

    • 1000000 mg/L (at 20 °C)
    • 1000 mg/mL at 20 °C

  • Synonyms

    • acetoacetic acid
    • 3-oxobutanoic acid
    • 541-50-4
    • 3-oxobutyric acid
    • beta-ketobutyric acid
    • Butanoic acid, 3-oxo-
    • 3-Ketobutyric acid
    • 3-oxo-butanoic acid
    • 3-ketobutanoic acid
    • 4ZI204Y1MC
    • CHEBI:15344
    • DTXSID00202441
    • RefChem:5508
    • DTXCID00124932
    • diacetic acid
    • 3-ketobutyrate
    • Acetoacitic acid
    • acetylacetic acid
    • 3-OXO-BUTYRIC ACID
    • 4387-93-3
    • 3-oxobutanate
    • 3-oxobutanoicacid
    • AAE
    • acetonecarboxylic acid
    • UNII-4ZI204Y1MC
    • 3-Oxobutyrate
    • lithium-acetoacetate
    • Nicardipine Impurity 55
    • SCHEMBL6620
    • .ALPHA.-KETOBUTYRATE
    • SCHEMBL34581
    • ACETOACETIC ACID [MI]
    • orb1983498
    • SCHEMBL6200478
    • SCHEMBL6757155
    • CHEMBL1230762
    • SCHEMBL13341499
    • LMFA01060003
    • AKOS006241271
    • DB01762
    • EBC-460060
    • DB-342173
    • HY-112540
    • CS-0046333
    • NS00068392
    • C00164
    • EN300-106488
    • H27848
    • Q409692
    • BRD-K73234506-235-02-1
    • A6DBA337-E696-4022-A9F9-1757E3CDBFAE
    • QuadraPure(R) AK, 50-90 mesh, extent of labeling: 2.0-3.0 mmol/g loading, 1 % cross-linked with divinylbenzene
    • 541-50-4

  • Applications

    Acetoacetic acid (3-oxobutanoic acid, CAS 541-50-4) is a versatile building block in organic synthesis, enabling formation of beta-dicarbonyl compounds and acetoacetylated derivatives through enolate chemistry and acetoacetylation. It is a common precursor to acetoacetyl esters and related derivatives used in polymer and plastics chemistry, including crosslinking agents for coatings, inks, and adhesives. It serves as an intermediate in the manufacture of pharmaceutical and agrochemical intermediates. Through esterification or acetoacetylation, it provides intermediates for fragrance and flavor compounds used in perfumery and flavor industries, and related cosmetic formulations. Use is subject to local regulations and formulation limits.

    gpt-5-nano

  • Solubility @25˚C

    Solvent Solubility (g/L)
    ethanol 533.8
    methanol 875.69
    isopropanol 480.73
    water 1091.36
    ethyl acetate 147.4
    n-propanol 368.29
    acetone 584.87
    n-butanol 257.68
    acetonitrile 378.72
    DMF 1956.48
    toluene 13.42
    isobutanol 255.35
    1,4-dioxane 413.7
    methyl acetate 255.08
    THF 676.92
    2-butanone 236.45
    n-pentanol 182.45
    sec-butanol 264.4
    n-hexane 9.84
    ethylene glycol 701.21
    NMP 891.82
    cyclohexane 4.17
    DMSO 868.2
    n-butyl acetate 56.79
    n-octanol 88.16
    chloroform 31.29
    n-propyl acetate 113.05
    acetic acid 822.91
    dichloromethane 40.3
    cyclohexanone 166.76
    propylene glycol 679.08
    isopropyl acetate 89.93
    DMAc 1070.75
    2-ethoxyethanol 543.79
    isopentanol 176.45
    n-heptane 6.27
    ethyl formate 225.36
    1,2-dichloroethane 43.66
    n-hexanol 99.89
    2-methoxyethanol 1102.35
    isobutyl acetate 69.48
    tetrachloromethane 8.78
    n-pentyl acetate 51.76
    transcutol 645.05
    n-heptanol 56.76
    ethylbenzene 10.11
    MIBK 116.86
    2-propoxyethanol 340.11
    tert-butanol 495.18
    MTBE 137.65
    2-butoxyethanol 163.19
    propionic acid 370.16
    o-xylene 17.77
    formic acid 833.89
    diethyl ether 128.08
    m-xylene 18.32
    p-xylene 15.5
    chlorobenzene 12.83
    dimethyl carbonate 201.71
    n-octane 3.27
    formamide 798.34
    cyclopentanone 313.92
    2-pentanone 187.14
    anisole 78.65
    cyclopentyl methyl ether 158.78
    gamma-butyrolactone 458.12
    1-methoxy-2-propanol 781.01
    pyridine 88.22
    3-pentanone 118.77
    furfural 363.68
    n-dodecane 4.24
    diethylene glycol 478.68
    diisopropyl ether 37.07
    tert-amyl alcohol 249.59
    acetylacetone 225.39
    n-hexadecane 4.38
    acetophenone 81.56
    methyl propionate 211.87
    isopentyl acetate 43.89
    trichloroethylene 54.02
    n-nonanol 76.88
    cyclohexanol 128.53
    benzyl alcohol 96.33
    2-ethylhexanol 41.34
    isooctanol 42.4
    dipropyl ether 61.76
    1,2-dichlorobenzene 14.61
    ethyl lactate 150.3
    propylene carbonate 228.79
    n-methylformamide 857.74
    2-pentanol 160.57
    n-pentane 10.47
    1-propoxy-2-propanol 193.54
    1-methoxy-2-propyl acetate 107.75
    2-(2-methoxypropoxy) propanol 216.06
    mesitylene 13.04
    ε-caprolactone 183.61
    p-cymene 11.24
    epichlorohydrin 313.9
    1,1,1-trichloroethane 29.77
    2-aminoethanol 731.58
    morpholine-4-carbaldehyde 882.53
    sulfolane 474.24
    2,2,4-trimethylpentane 5.84
    2-methyltetrahydrofuran 243.89
    n-hexyl acetate 94.48
    isooctane 5.64
    2-(2-butoxyethoxy)ethanol 298.33
    sec-butyl acetate 62.85
    tert-butyl acetate 105.28
    decalin 4.68
    glycerin 996.0
    diglyme 414.48
    acrylic acid 408.41
    isopropyl myristate 42.31
    n-butyric acid 259.32
    acetyl acetate 100.95
    di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate 52.23
    ethyl propionate 115.01
    nitromethane 1076.77
    1,2-diethoxyethane 106.2
    benzonitrile 68.04
    trioctyl phosphate 43.77
    1-bromopropane 23.83
    gamma-valerolactone 568.94
    n-decanol 58.58
    triethyl phosphate 40.02
    4-methyl-2-pentanol 88.03
    propionitrile 177.79
    vinylene carbonate 198.56
    1,1,2-trichlorotrifluoroethane 292.0
    DMS 98.6
    cumene 12.24
    2-octanol 43.11
    2-hexanone 126.11
    octyl acetate 61.2
    limonene 17.11
    1,2-dimethoxyethane 602.61
    ethyl orthosilicate 37.8
    tributyl phosphate 51.64
    diacetone alcohol 251.36
    N,N-dimethylaniline 71.89
    acrylonitrile 255.84
    aniline 61.9
    1,3-propanediol 622.41
    bromobenzene 6.46
    dibromomethane 20.18
    1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane 50.93
    2-methyl-cyclohexyl acetate 47.3
    tetrabutyl urea 83.01
    diisobutyl methanol 28.72
    2-phenylethanol 64.15
    styrene 10.09
    dioctyl adipate 75.78
    dimethyl sulfate 303.62
    ethyl butyrate 61.92
    methyl lactate 309.45
    butyl lactate 78.78
    diethyl carbonate 48.98
    propanediol butyl ether 258.57
    triethyl orthoformate 51.55
    p-tert-butyltoluene 12.07
    methyl 4-tert-butylbenzoate 105.34
    morpholine 523.78
    tert-butylamine 203.43
    n-dodecanol 45.29
    dimethoxymethane 680.56
    ethylene carbonate 161.85
    cyrene 255.6
    2-ethoxyethyl acetate 90.59
    2-ethylhexyl acetate 29.88
    1,2,4-trichlorobenzene 21.71
    4-methylpyridine 104.82
    dibutyl ether 55.2
    2,6-dimethyl-4-heptanol 28.72
    DEF 276.04
    dimethyl isosorbide 259.22
    tetrachloroethylene 30.97
    eugenol 127.46
    triacetin 129.04
    span 80 174.99
    1,4-butanediol 299.08
    1,1-dichloroethane 41.44
    2-methyl-1-pentanol 111.9
    methyl formate 665.19
    2-methyl-1-butanol 171.38
    n-decane 6.16
    butyronitrile 149.24
    3,7-dimethyl-1-octanol 62.13
    1-chlorooctane 21.79
    1-chlorotetradecane 11.61
    n-nonane 5.61
    undecane 4.97
    tert-butylcyclohexane 6.35
    cyclooctane 2.26
    cyclopentanol 231.01
    tetrahydropyran 168.74
    tert-amyl methyl ether 101.75
    2,5,8-trioxanonane 338.35
    1-hexene 26.09
    2-isopropoxyethanol 298.57
    2,2,2-trifluoroethanol 431.25
    methyl butyrate 144.5

    Scent© AI

1 4

IFRA standard 51

Recommendation
No restriction
Maximum acceptable concentrations in the finished product (%)
Category 1
Products applied to the lips
 No restriction Category 7A
Rinse-off products applied to the hair with some hand contact
 No restriction
Category 2
Products applied to the axillae
 No restriction Category 7B
Leave-on products applied to the hair with some hand contact
 No restriction
Category 3
Products applied to the face/body using fingertips
 No restriction Category 8
Products with significant anogenital exposure
 No restriction
Category 4
Products related to fine fragrance
 No restriction Category 9
Products with body and hand exposure, primarily rinse off
 No restriction
Category 5A
Body lotion products applied to the body using the hands (palms), primarily leave on
 No restriction Category 10A
Household care products with mostly hand contact
 No restriction
Category 5B
Face moisturizer products applied to the face using the hands (palms), primarily leave on
 No restriction Category 10B
Household care products with mostly hand contact, including aerosol/spray products (with potential leave-on skin contact)
 No restriction
Category 5C
Hand cream products applied to the hands using the hands (palms), primarily leave on
 No restriction Category 11A
Products with intended skin contact but minimal transfer of fragrance to skin from inert substrate without UV exposure
 No restriction
Category 5D
Baby Creams, baby Oils and baby talc
 No restriction Category 11B
Products with intended skin contact but minimal transfer of fragrance to skin from inert substrate with potential UV exposure
 No restriction
Category 6
Products with oral and lip exposure
 No restriction Category 12
Products not intended for direct skin contact, minimal or insignificant transfer to skin
 No restriction