Abstract

This article describes monomeric ketenes, ketene dimers, and acetoacetic acid derivatives. The parent substance, ketene itself, is the only ketene to be manufactured in large industrial quantities. The manufacturing process, chemical and physical properties, and industrial uses of ketene are described in detail. A table is included that lists examples of higher ketenes, thioketenes. The manufacture of acetic anhydride is described.

The article gives a thorough review of all aspects of diketene which is an important product derived from ketene on an industrial scale. Diketene gives access to open-chain acetoacetic acid derivatives as well as heterocyclic systems. An overview is provided on dimeric aldoketenes and ketoketenes.

Acetoacetic acid derivatives are of significant economic importance. The manufacturing processes of diketene esters and of acetoacetarylides are outlined. This includes methyl acetoacetate and acetoacetanilide. Industrial uses of the various ketene and diketene derivatives are discussed with emphasis on the most important life science applications. Vol. 14, pp. 953–978, 157 refs. to December 1993.