Triketone

In organic chemistry, a triketone or trione is an organic compound containing three ketone groups. The simplest triketones, such as cyclopropanetrione and 2,3,4-pentanetrione, are only of occasional theoretical interest. More pertinent are triacetylmethane and 2,4,6-heptanetrione. Both species exist predominantly in the enol forms.

Occurrence and significance

Tri- and polyketones are of practical importance as intermediates in the biosynthesis of polyketides. These natural products are a major source of antibiotics.