Lanthanum acetylacetonate

Lanthanum acetylacetonate refers to the coordination complex with the formula La(C5H7O2)3. This anhydrous acetylacetonate complex has not been characterized well, but the dihydrate La(C5H7O2)3(H2O)2 has been characterized by X-ray crystallography.

Upon heating under vacuum, the dihydrate converts to the oxo-cluster La4O(C5H7O2)10. This behavior is also observed for erbium, yttrium, gadolinium, and europium.

The instability constants (logYn) are 3.65, 5.13 and 6.12 (corresponding to n=1, 2, 3) have been reported for "La(acac)3". It can be prepared by the reaction of lanthanum alkoxide and acetylacetone. Its tetrahydrate decomposes into monohydrate at 110 °C, obtains the anhydrous form at 150 °C, undergoes La(CH3COO)(acac)2 and La(CH3COO)2(acac), and at 180~285 °C lanthanum acetate is produced. It can be used to prepare NaLaS2, La2Zr2O7 and other materials.