A
diketone is a molecule containing two
ketone groups. The simpliest diketone is
diacetyl, also known as 2,3-butanedione. Diacetyl,
acetylacetone, and
hexane-2,5-dione are examples of 1,2-, 1,3-, and 1,4-diketones, respectively.
Dimedone is an example of a cyclic diketone.
1,3-Diketones, such as acetylacetone, are particularly prone to form stable enols or enolates because of conjugation of the enol or enolate with the other carbonyl group, and the stability gained in forming a six-membered ring, (hydrogen bonded in the case of the enol or containing the counter ion in the case of the enolate).
The conjugate base derived from 1,3-ketones form complexes with metal ions.
Diketones with one or two methylene groups separating the carbonyl groups typically coexist with their enol tautomers. The reactions of such dicarbonyls are very similar to those of simple ketones.
