Ethylidene diacetate is an organic compound with the formula (CH3CO2)2CHCH3. It is a colorless liquid with a sweet, fruity odor. Ethylidene diacetate once served as a precursor to vinyl acetate, a valued monomer.
Preparation A major industrial route involves the reaction of acetaldehyde and acetic anhydride in the presence of a ferric chloride catalyst:GB Patent 238825A 'Process of Manufacture of Acetic Anhydride and Aldehyde' CH3CHO + (CH3CO)2O → (CH3CO2)2CHCH3
It can be converted to the valuable monomer vinyl acetate by thermal elimination of acetic acid: (CH3CO2)2CHCH3 → CH3CO2CH=CH2 + CH3CO2H
References