Zinc acetylacetonate

Zinc acetylacetonate is an acetylacetonate complex of zinc, with the chemical formula of Zn(C5H7O2)2. The compound is in fact a trimer, Zn3(acac)6, in which each Zn ion is coordinated by five oxygen atoms in a distorted trigonal bipyramidal structure.

Preparation
Zinc acetylacetonate can be obtained by reacting zinc sulfate, acetylacetone and sodium hydroxide.

Properties
Zinc acetylacetonate is a crystalline substance that is slightly soluble in water. Through sublimation, monomer crystals can be obtained, which are monoclinic and have the space group C2/c (No. 15). Trimeric crystals can also be obtained by sublimation, which is also monoclinic, with space group C2 (No. 5). The structures of its monohydrate and dihydrate are also known.

Reactions
Zinc acetylacetonate hydrate has been used to prepare magnetic (Zn,Fe)Fe2O4 films, zinc oxide, and is also a catalyst for organic synthesis.