Acetolactone

Acetolactone (α-acetolactone) is an organic compound with formula. It is the smallest member of the lactone family but can also be described as the epoxide of ethenone. 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 (, which has increased electronic stabilisation due to its two trifluoromethyl groups, is known and has a half-life of 8 hours at 25 °C. This compound is prepared by photolysis of bis(trifluoromethyl)malonyl peroxide.