Acetoacetic acid (also diacetic acid) is the organic compound with the formula CH₃COCH₂COOH. It is the simplest beta-keto acid group and like other members of this class is unstable. The methyl and ethyl esters, which are quite stable, are produced on a large scale industrially as precursors to dyes.

Acetoacetic acid (also diacetic acid) is the organic compound with the formula CH₃COCH₂COOH. It is the simplest beta-keto acid group and like other members of this class is unstable. The methyl and ethyl esters, which are quite stable, are produced on a large scale industrially as precursors to dyes.