4095. Flavoxanthin

Nomenclature

CAS number: 512-29-8
(3S,3′R,5R,6′R,8R)-5,8-Epoxy-5,8-dihydro-β,ε-carotene-3,3′-diol.
C40H56O3; mol wt 584.87.
C 82.14%, H 9.65%, O 8.21%.

Description and references

Carotenoid pigment; stereoisomer of chrysanthemaxanthin, q.v. Often found in plants, but in minute amounts only and never as a principal pigment. Isoln from Ranunculus acris L., Ranunculaceae: Kuhn, Brockmann, Z. Physiol. Chem. 213, 192 (1932). Structure: Karrer, Rutschmann, Helv. Chim. Acta 25, 1144 (1942). Partial synthesis: Karrer, Jucker, ibid. 28, 300 (1945). Absolute configuration: H. Cadosch et al., ibid. 61, 783 (1978).

Chemical structure

Properties

Golden-yellow aggregates of prisms, mp 184°. Absorption max (chloroform): 430, 459 nm. [α]20Cd +190° (c = 0.04 in benzene). Freely sol in chloroform, benzene, acetone; less sol in methanol, ethanol. Almost insol in petr ether.