2673. Curcumin

Nomenclature

CAS number: 458-37-7
(1E,6E)-1,7-Bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1,6-heptadiene-3,5-dione; turmeric yellow; diferuloylmethane; C.I. 75300; C.I. Natural Yellow 3.
C21H20O6; mol wt 368.38.
C 68.47%, H 5.47%, O 26.06%.

Description and references

Natural dyestuff from root of Curcuma longa L., Zingiberaceae. Isoln: Vogel, Ann. 44, 297 (1842); Perkin, Phipps, J. Chem. Soc. Trans. 85, I, 64 (1904); Rao, Shintre, J. Soc. Chem. Ind. 47, 54T (1928). Synthesis: Lampe, Ber. 51, 1347 (1918). Production: Stieglitz, Horn, DE 859145 (1952 to Hoechst). Biosynthesis studies: Roughley, Whiting, Tetrahedron Lett. 1971, 3741. Chromatography: Srinivasan, J. Pharm. Pharmacol. 5, 448 (1953). See also: H. J. Conn's Biological Stains, R. D. Lillie, Ed. (Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore, 9th ed., 1977) pp 474-476. Pharmacology and anti-inflammatory activity: Srimal, Dhawan, ibid. 25, 447 (1973).

Chemical structure

Properties

Orange-yellow, cryst powder, mp 183°. Insol in water, ether. Sol in alcohol, glacial acetic acid. Gives a brownish-red color with alkali; a light-yellow color with acids.

Use

For preparing curcuma paper, pH range 8-9. In the detection of boron.