Acetophenone is the organic compound with the formula C₆H₅C(O)CH₃. It is the simplest aromatic ketone. This colourless, viscous liquid is a precursor to useful resins and fragrances.

Acetophenone can be obtained by a variety of methods. In industry, acetophenone is recovered as a by-product of the oxidation of ethylbenzene, which mainly gives ethylbenzene hydroperoxide for use in the production of propylene oxide.

Commercially significant resins are produced from treatment of acetophenone with formaldehyde and base. The resulting polymers are conventionally described with the formula [(C₆H₅C(O)CH]_x(CH₂)_x}_n, resulting from aldol condensation. These substances are components of coatings and inks. Modified acetophenone-formaldehyde resins are produced by the hydrogenation of the aforementioned ketone-containing resins. The resulting polyol can be further crosslinked with diisocyanates. These modified resins are again found in coatings, inks, as well as adhesives.

In instructional laboratories, acetophenone is converted to styrene in a two step process that illustrates the reduction of carbonyls and the dehydration of alcohols: