Abstract: The present invention provides a method to effectively inhibit the oxidization of VO(acac)2 in solution for months. It is believed that VO(acac)2 forms a ?-complex with as many as three allylic alcohols which precludes reaction with any oxygen in the system. Although saturated and homo-allylic alcohols were also tested, this effect appears only in the allylic-alcohol based solutions. This ability to inhibit oxidation of VO(acac)2 allows these solutions to be used for making thermochromic VO2 film much more easily and economically as it avoids the requirement of operating under low oxygen level conditions. Thus the present invention provides a method of stabilizing vanadium oxyacetylacetonate (VO(acac)2) in solution against oxidation for extended periods of time, comprising the steps of mixing the oxyacetylacetonate precursor in an allylic alcohol prior to spin-coating for VO2 film formation. The allylic alcohol may be (?-methallyl alcohol.