Synthesis and X-ray structural analysis of an acyclic bifunctional vicinal triketone, its hydrate, and its ethanol-adduct

We have synthesized and fully characterized an acyclic bifunctional vicinal tricarbonyl compound, its hydrate, and its ethanol-adduct, which could be converted to one another by utilizing the reversible addition–elimination of water or ethanol. X-ray single crystal study revealed that the bistriketone expanded and contracted by 10–30% in length during the interconversion.