Acetolactone

Acetolactone or α-acetolactone is an organic compound with formula C₂H₂O₂. It is the smallest member of the lactone family but can also be described as the epoxide of ketene. The compound was described in 1997 as a transient species in mass spectrometry experiments.

Although acetolactone itself has not been isolated in bulk, the related species bis(trifluoromethyl)acetolactone ((CF₃)₂C₂O₂), which enjoys a degree of electronic stabilisation from its two trifluoromethyl groups, is known and has a half-life of 8 h at 25 °C. This compound is prepared by photolysis of bis(trifluoromethyl)malonyl peroxide.