The paper presents data regarding the synthesis and thermal stability of some aluminium chelates with beta-diketones. The thermal degradation of chelates was performed in order to determine the possibility and the conditions for obtaining Al2O3. The oxide obtained by thermal decomposition of aluminium hexafluoroacetyl-acetonate presented a higher catalytic activity for the dehydration reaction of ethanol, than a standard catalyst (gamma-alumina activated in air at 500 degrees C).