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Chemical compound
Ethylidene diacetate is an organic compound with the formula (CH3CO2)2CHCH3. A colorless low-melting solid, it once served as a precursor to vinyl acetate.
Preparation.
A major industrial route involves the reaction of acetaldehyde and acetic anhydride in the presence of a ferric chloride catalyst:
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