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Ketene
Organic compound of the form >C=C=O / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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This article is about the generic structure class. For the specific chemical of this name, see ethenone.
In organic chemistry, a ketene is an organic compound of the form RR'C=C=O, where R and R' are two arbitrary monovalent chemical groups (or two separate substitution sites in the same molecule).[1] The name may also refer to the specific compound ethenone H2C=C=O, the simplest ketene.[2]
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Although they are highly useful, most ketenes are unstable. When used as reagents in a chemical procedure, they are typically generated when needed, and consumed as soon as (or while) they are produced.[1]