Copper(II) acetylacetonate

Copper(II) acetylacetonate

Names
Other names Bis(2,4-pentanedionato)copper Cupric acetylacetonate
Identifiers
CAS Number	13395-16-9  Y
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image
ChemSpider	17949957
ECHA InfoCard	100.033.147
EC Number	236-477-9
PubChem CID	139053110
UNII	69QQY9TJ8M  Y
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID50904281
InChI InChI=1S/2C5H8O2.Cu/c2*1-4(6)3-5(2)7;/h2*3,6H,1-2H3; Key: ZKXWKVVCCTZOLD-UHFFFAOYSA-N
SMILES CC(=CC(=O)C)O.CC(=CC(=O)C)O.[Cu]
Properties
Chemical formula	Cu(C5H7O2)2
Molar mass	261.764 g·mol−1
Appearance	blue solid
Density	0.721 g/cm3
Melting point	245 °C (473 °F; 518 K) [1] (decomposes)
Boiling point	160 °C (320 °F; 433 K) [1] at 9.8 mmHg
Vapor pressure	0.13 hPa at 163 °C (325 °F; 436 K) [1]
Hazards
GHS labelling: [2]
Pictograms
Signal word	Warning
Hazard statements	H315, H319, H335
Precautionary statements	P261, P264, P271, P280, P302+P352, P304+P340+P312, P305+P351+P338, P332+P313, P337+P313, P362, P403+P233, P405, P501
NFPA 704 (fire diamond)	[1] 2 1 0
Autoignition temperature	250 °C (482 °F; 523 K) [1]
Threshold limit value (TLV)	1 mg/m3 [1] (TWA)
Lethal dose or concentration (LD, LC):
LD50 (median dose)	19 mg/kg (intraperitoneal, mouse) 10 mg/kg (intravenous, mouse) [2]
NIOSH (US health exposure limits): [1]
REL (Recommended)	1 mg/m3 (TWA) [2]
IDLH (Immediate danger)	100 mg/m3
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). Infobox references

Copper(II) acetylacetonate is the coordination compound with the formula Cu(C₅H₇O₂)₂. It is the homoleptic acetylacetonate complex of copper(II). It is insoluble within water and exists as a bright blue solid. According to X-ray crystallography, the Cu center is square planar. ^[3] Single crystals of this compound exhibit the unusual property of being highly flexible, allowing the formation of knots. The flexibility is attributed to the nature of the intermolecular forces. ^[4]

Synthesis

Copper(II) acetylacetonate may be synthesized by reaction of copper(II) chloride (CuCl₂) and acetylacetone in a methanol and water mixture with sodium acetate at >80 °C (176 °F), or by reaction of copper(II) sulfate (CuSO₄) with acetylacetone in a sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution in water at room temperature: ^[5]

CuCl₂ + 2 C₅H₈O₂ → Cu(C₅H₇O₂)₂ + 2 HCl

CuSO₄ + 2 C₅H₈O₂ → Cu(C₅H₇O₂)₂ + H₂SO₄

Uses

Thermal decomposition of copper(II) acetylacetonate at low pressure and high temperature in a hydrogen / water atmosphere may be used to produce nano-particles of copper(I) oxide (Cu₂O) or copper (Cu₂) depending on the temperature and pressure parameters. ^[6]

References

1. "SDS - Copper(II) acetylacetonate". fishersci.com. Thermo Fisher Scientific. 24 December 2021. Retrieved 3 November 2025.
2. Sigma-Aldrich Co., Copper(II) acetylacetonate.
3. Vreshch, Volodimir D.; Yang, Jen-Hsien; Zhang, Haitao; Filatov, Alexander S.; Dikarev, Evgeny V. (2010). "Monomeric Square-Planar Cobalt(II) Acetylacetonate: Mystery or Mistake?". Inorg. Chem. 49 (18): 8430–8434. doi:10.1021/ic100963r. PMID   20795642.
4. Brock, Aidan J.; Whittaker, Jacob J.; Powell, Joshua A.; Pfrunder, Michael C.; Grosjean, Arnaud; Parsons, Simon; McMurtrie, John C.; Clegg, Jack K. (2018). "Elastically Flexible Crystals have Disparate Mechanisms of Molecular Movement Induced by Strain and Heat". Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 57 (35): 11325–11328. doi: 10.1002/anie.201806431 . PMID   29998602.
5. "Synthesis of copper(II) acetylacetonate" (PDF). educa.fc.up.pt. Educa - Cultura Científica e Ensino/Aprendizagem da Química. 2011. Retrieved 3 November 2025.
6. Nasibulin, Albert G.; Kauppinen, Esko I.; Brown, David P.; Jokiniemi, Jorma K. (1 November 2001). "Nanoparticle Formation via Copper (II) Acetylacetonate Vapor Decomposition in the Presence of Hydrogen and Water" (PDF). The Journal of Physical Chemistry B. 105 (45): 11067–11075. doi:10.1021/jp0114135 . Retrieved 3 November 2025.