
%0 Journal Article
%A Hay, RW 
%A Bond, MA 
%T Kinetics of the Decarboxylation of Acetoacetic acid
%J Australian Journal of Chemistry
%D 1967/09/01
%V 20
%N 9
%P 1823-1828
%K 
%R https://doi.org/10.1071/CH9671823
%U https://www.publish.csiro.au/paper/CH9671823 
%X The decarboxylation of acetoacetic acid CH3COCH2CO2H &#8594; CH3COCH3+CO2 and its anion have been studied in aqueous solution over a range of temperature. Although the acid decomposes approximately 50 times faster than the anion at 37°, the activation energy of the acid (23.7 kcal mole-1) is comparable with that of the anion (22.9 kcal mole-1) and the large difference in reactivity is due to an entropy effect. The significance of these results is discussed and a comparison made with other &#946;-keto acid decarboxylations. 
