Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 20, 2026

Cyclopropanone

Cyclopropanone is an organic compound with molecular formula (CH2)2CO consisting of a cyclopropane carbon framework with a ketone functional group. The parent compound is labile, being highly sensitive toward even weak nucleophiles. Surrogates of cyclopropanone include the ketals.

Last revised
Jul 20, 2026
Read time
≈ 3 min
Length
669 w
Citations
16
Source
Cyclopropanone
source ↗
Names
Preferred IUPAC name
Cyclopropanone
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChemSpider
  • InChI=1S/C3H4O/c4-3-1-2-3/h1-2H2 checkY
    Key: VBBRYJMZLIYUJQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N checkY
  • InChI=1/C3H4O/c4-3-1-2-3/h1-2H2
    Key: VBBRYJMZLIYUJQ-UHFFFAOYAV
  • C1CC1=O
  • O=C1CC1
Properties
C3H4O
Molar mass 56.064 g·mol−1
Appearance Colorless
Density 0.867 g/mL at 25 °C
Melting point −90 °C (−130 °F; 183 K)
Boiling point 50 to 53 °C (122 to 127 °F; 323 to 326 K) at 22 mmHg
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
checkY verify (what is checkY☒N ?)

Cyclopropanone is an organic compound with molecular formula (CH2)2CO consisting of a cyclopropane carbon framework with a ketone functional group. The parent compound is labile, being highly sensitive toward even weak nucleophiles. Surrogates of cyclopropanone include the ketals.1

Preparation

Cyclopropanone has been prepared by reaction of ketene with diazomethane12 in an unreactive solvent such as dichloromethane.3 These solutions are stable at −78 °C. In the presence of protic reagents such as carboxylic acids, primary and secondary amines, and alcohols, cyclopropanone converts to adducts, which are often isolatable at room temperature:45

(CH2)2CO + X-H → (CH2)2C(X)(OH)    (X-H = R2N-H, HO-H, RO-H)

This reaction underlies cyclopropanone's polymerization at room temperature, initiated by traces of water.1: 1476  The isocyanate adducts can also be prepared directly through photochemical rearrangement of succinimino ethers.1: 1462 

Structure

The C3O atoms are coplanar. As deduced from the microwave spectrum, the H2C-CH2 bond length of 157.5 pm is unusually long. By contrast, the C-C bond lengths in cyclopropane are 151 pm. The C=O bond length of 119 pm is short compared to the 123 pm bond length in acetone.1

The value of νC=O in the infrared spectrum is near 1815 cm−1, ca. 70 cm−1 higher than values for a typical ketone.

Derivatives

Cyclopropanones are intermediates in the Favorskii rearrangement with cyclic ketones where carboxylic acid formation is accompanied by ring-contraction.

Cyclopropanones react as dienophiles in [4+3] cycloadditions, for instance with cyclic dienes such as furan.1: 1492–1493  An oxyallyl intermediate or valence tautomer (formed by cleavage of the C2-C3 bond) is suggested as the active intermediate or even a biradical structure (compare to the related trimethylenemethane).

Cyclopropanone tautomeric structures

Other reactions of cyclopropanones take place through this intermediate. For instance enantiopure (+)-trans-2,3-di-tert-butylcyclopropanone racemizes when heated to 80 °C.6

An oxyallyl intermediate is also proposed in the photochemical conversion of a 3,5-dihydro-4H-pyrazole-4-one with expulsion of nitrogen to an indane:7

2,3-Dimethyl-2,3-diphenylcyclopropanone intermediate in photolysis

In this reaction oxyallyl intermediate A, in chemical equilibrium with cyclopropanone B attacks the phenyl ring through its carbocation forming a transient 1,3-cyclohexadiene C (with UV trace similar to isotoluene) followed by rearomatization. The energy difference between A and B is 5 to 7 kcal/mol (21 to 29 kJ/mol).

Coprine

The cyclopropanone derivative 1-aminocyclopropanol occurs naturally by hydrolyzes of coprine, a toxin in some mushrooms. 1-Aminocyclopropanol is an inhibitor of the enzyme acetaldehyde dehydrogenase.8

See also

See also

References

References

  1. Wasserman, Harry H.; Berdahl, Donald R.; Lu, Ta-Jung (1987). "The Chemistry of Cyclopropanones". PATAI'S Chemistry of Functional Groups: Cyclopropyl Group. pp. 1455–1532. doi:10.1002/0470023449.ch23. ISBN 9780470023440.
  2. Turro, Nicholas J. (1969). "Cyclopropanones". Accounts of Chemical Research. 2: 25–32. doi:10.1021/ar50013a004.
  3. De Kimpe, Norbert (2001). "Cyclopropanone". Cyclopropanone. Encyclopedia of Reagents for Organic Synthesis. doi:10.1002/047084289X.rc302. ISBN 0-471-93623-5.
  4. Salaün, J.; Marguerite, J. (1985). "Cyclopropanone Ethyl Hemiacetal from Ethyl 3-Chloropropanoate". Organic Syntheses. 63: 147. doi:10.15227/orgsyn.063.0147.
  5. Salaun, Jacques (1983). "Cyclopropanone Hemiacetals". Chemical Reviews. 83 (6): 619–632. doi:10.1021/cr00058a002.
  6. Greene, Frederick D.; Sclove, David B.; Pazos, Jose F.; Camp, Ronald L. (1970). "Thermal reactions of a cyclopropanone. Racemization and decarbonylation of trans-2,3-di-tert-butylcyclopropanone". Journal of the American Chemical Society. 92 (25): 7488. doi:10.1021/ja00728a051.
  7. Moiseev, Andrey G.; Abe, Manabu; Danilov, Evgeny O.; Neckers, Douglas C. (2007). "First Direct Detection of 2,3-Dimethyl-2,3-diphenylcyclopropanone". The Journal of Organic Chemistry. 72 (8): 2777–2784. doi:10.1021/jo062259r. PMID 17362038.
  8. Wiseman, Jeffrey S.; Abeles, Robert H. (May 2002). "Mechanism of inhibition of aldehyde dehydrogenase by cyclopropanone hydrate and the mushroom toxin coprine". Biochemistry. 18 (3): 427–435. doi:10.1021/bi00570a006. PMID 369602.