Acetophenone

Acetophenone is the aromatic ketone ${\mathrm{C}}_6{\mathrm{H}}_5\mathrm{C}(=\mathrm{O})\mathrm{C}{\mathrm{H}}_3$. It contains a carbonyl attached directly to a phenyl group and an enolizable methyl group.

Reduction of the carbonyl gives an alcohol with a new stereogenic centre. A chiral reduction system can favour one enantiomer, making acetophenone a useful simple example of catalytic asymmetric synthesis.