Copper(II) acetylacetonate

Copper acetylacetonate is the coordination compound with the formula. It is the homoleptic acetylacetonate complex of copper. The compound, a bright blue paramagnetic solid, is insoluble in water but dissolves in some organic solvents.

Structure

According to X-ray crystallography and spectra recorded on single crystals, the Cu center is square planar. The flexibility is attributed to the nature of the intermolecular forces. Crystals of exhibit the unusual property of being flexible.

Synthesis

Copper acetylacetonate may be prepared by reaction of copper(II) salts and acetylacetone in the presence of a base:

Uses

Thermal decomposition of copper acetylacetonate at low pressure and high temperature in a hydrogen / water atmosphere may be used to produce nano-particles of copper(I) oxide or copper depending on the temperature and pressure parameters.