2562. Coumarin

Nomenclature

CAS number: 91-64-5
2H-1-Benzopyran-2-one; 1,2-benzopyrone; cis-o-coumarinic acid lactone; cumarin; coumarinic anhydride; tonka bean camphor.
C9H6O2; mol wt 146.14.
C 73.97%, H 4.14%, O 21.90%.

Description and references

In tonka beans, lavender oil, woodruff (Asperula species), in sweet clover (Melilotus). Crystal and molecular structure: Chem. Commun. (Univ. Stockholm) 1976, 21. Toxicity: Jenner et al., Food Cosmet. Toxicol. 2, 327 (1964). Review: Sethna, Shah, Chem. Rev. 36, 1 (1945); W. C. Meuly in Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology vol. 7 (Wiley-Interscience, New York, 3rd ed., 1979) pp 196-206.

Chemical structure

Properties

Orthorhombic, rectangular plates. Pleasant, fragrant odor resembling that of vanilla beans, burning taste. mp 68-70°. bp 297-299°. bp5 139°. One gram dissolves in 400 ml cold, 50 ml boiling water. Freely sol in alc, chloroform, ether, oils; also sol in alkali hydroxide solns. LD50 orally in rats, guinea pigs: 680, 202 mg/kg (Jenner).

Use

Pharmaceutic aid (flavor).