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coumarin

File:Coumarin_acsv.svg · Wikimedia Commons · See Wikimedia Commons

EntityQ111812· pop 51· linked from 444 articles

Also known as 2H-benzo[b]pyran-2-one, o-hydroxycinnamic acid delta-lactone, 2-Propenoic acid, 3-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-, delta-lactone, Coumarine, Benzo-alpha-pyrone, chromen-2-one, 2-Oxo-2H-1-Benzopyran, 2-Oxo-1,2-benzopyran

Coumarin () or '2H-chromen-2-one' is an aromatic organic chemical compound with formula . Its molecule can be described as a benzene molecule with two adjacent hydrogen atoms replaced by an unsaturated lactone ring , forming a second six-membered heterocycle that shares two carbons with the benzene ring. It belongs to the benzopyrone chemical class and is considered a lactone.

Chemical data

Formula
C9H6O2
Molecular weight
146.14 g/mol
IUPAC name
chromen-2-one
SMILES
C1=CC=C2C(=C1)C=CC(=O)O2
InChIKey
ZYGHJZDHTFUPRJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N
XLogP
1.4
Polar surface area
26.3 Ų
H-bond donors
0
H-bond acceptors
2
Formal charge
0

via PubChem

~11 min read

Encyclopedic overview

12 sections
Contents
  • Etymology
  • History
  • Synthesis
  • Biosynthesis
  • Natural occurrence
  • Biological function
  • Metabolism
  • Derivatives
  • Uses
  • Toxicity
  • Notes
  • References

Coumarin () or '2H-chromen-2-one' is an aromatic organic chemical compound with formula . Its molecule can be described as a benzene molecule with two adjacent hydrogen atoms replaced by an unsaturated lactone ring , forming a second six-membered heterocycle that shares two carbons with the benzene ring. It belongs to the benzopyrone chemical class and is considered a lactone.

Coumarin is a colorless crystalline solid with a sweet odor resembling the scent of vanilla and a bitter taste. It is found in many plants, where it may serve as a chemical defense against predators. While coumarin is not an anticoagulant, its 3-alkyl-4-hydroxy derivatives, such as the fungal metabolite dicoumarol, inhibit synthesis of vitamin K, a key component in blood clotting. A related compound, the prescription drug anticoagulant warfarin, is used to inhibit formation of blood clots, deep vein thrombosis, and pulmonary embolism.

Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “coumarin” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.

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