Ethyl 2-Hexylacetoacetate is a β-keto ester carrying a hexyl group already installed at the alpha position, supplied by TCI under catalogue code H0129. The compound belongs to the acetoacetate derivative family, a class of classical building blocks highly valued in organic synthesis because they possess an active carbon atom situated between a ketone group and an ester group. In the laboratory, this material serves as a starting material for constructing larger carbon skeletons, for preparing doubly substituted derivatives, and as a precursor toward long-chain carbonyl compounds by way of hydrolysis and decarboxylation reactions.
The property that makes this reagent a preferred choice is the combination of an alpha proton whose acidity remains adequate for further transformation with a hexyl chain that adds lipophilic character to the molecule. Because the hexyl group is already attached, chemists do not need to perform the initial alkylation step themselves, so the synthetic route becomes more concise and the overall yield is easier to maintain. Fewer intermediate steps also means fewer purification stages, less material loss between operations, and a shorter path from the commercial reagent to the target structure the group is pursuing.
The material takes the form of a liquid, so measuring it out with a pipette or a syringe is practical and straightforward. The 25 mL pack size suits synthetic work at the millimole to tens-of-millimoles scale that is commonly carried out in research laboratories. In Indonesian university, government, and industrial research laboratories, this kind of pack matches the typical working rhythm of organic synthesis groups, where reactions are run on modest scale and a single bottle can support a series of related experiments.
- Carbon skeleton construction: the active carbon between the ketone and ester groups allows the molecule to be extended into larger frameworks without a separate preparatory alkylation step being required first.
- Preparation of doubly substituted derivatives: with the hexyl group already occupying one alpha position, a second substituent can be introduced to give the disubstituted acetoacetate targets chemists frequently need.
- Precursor to long-chain carbonyl compounds: hydrolysis followed by decarboxylation converts this ester into extended-chain carbonyl products, making it a direct entry point to that compound class.
- Classical acetoacetate chemistry teaching and method development: as a member of a well-established building block family, it behaves predictably enough to support instructional work and reaction optimisation studies.
- Synthesis of lipophilic intermediates: the hexyl chain contributes lipophilic character to the molecule, which is useful when a target structure requires a longer, less polar hydrocarbon segment.
| Brand | TCI (catalogue code H0129) |
|---|---|
| CAS number | 29214-60-6 |
| Molecular formula | — |
| Purity | — |
| Category | Chemistry > Building Blocks > Non-Heterocyclic Building Blocks |
| Pack sizes | 25 mL |
| Physical form | liquid |
| Storage | keep in a cool, dry place in a tightly closed original container, away from heat and direct sunlight |
Store the bottle in a cool, dry, well-ventilated chemical store, keeping the container tightly closed in the original TCI packaging so that the liquid is not exposed to moisture or air for longer than necessary. Because the material is a liquid, dispense it with a clean, dry pipette or syringe rather than by pouring, and return the closure immediately after use. Handle the reagent inside a fume hood while wearing safety glasses, a laboratory coat, and chemically resistant gloves. Keep the container away from heat sources, ignition sources, and direct sunlight, and consult the manufacturer's safety data sheet before first use and before any disposal step.
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