Ketones

Abstract Braithwaite, John (Union Carbide Chemicals and Plastics Co., Inc.). Ketones are a class of organic compounds that contain one or more carbonyl groups bound to two aliphatic, aromatic, or alicyclic substituents. Ketones are an important class of industrial chemicals that have found widespread use as solvents and chemical intermediates. Acetone is the simplest and most important ketone and finds ubiquitous use as a solvent. Higher members of the aliphatic methyl ketone series (eg, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, and methyl amyl ketone) are also industrially significant solvents. Cyclohexanone is the most important cyclic ketone and is primarily used in the manufacture of γ‐caprolactam for nylon‐6. Other ketones find application in fields as diverse as fragrance formulation and metals extraction. Physical and chemical properties as well as uses, manufacture, and health and safety data are given.