Ceric acetylacetonate, Ce(CH₃.CO.CH.CO.CH₃)₄

Ceric acetylacetonate, Ce(CH₃.CO.CH.CO.CH₃)₄, may be prepared by shaking a suspension of ceric hydroxide in water with excess of acetylacetone for several days. Deep red needles of the hydrated compound (11H₂O) are thus formed. They are dried in vacuo and crystallised from carbon tetrachloride, when black, lustrous crystals of the anhydrous substance separate out, m.p. 171-172°. The acetylacetonate is slightly soluble in water, which hydrolyses it slightly; hydrolysis may be repressed by the addition of a little acetylacetone. The compound dissolves in most organic media, forming deep red solutions that are readily reduced.