1-Benzopyran-2-on

BeschreibungCoumarin is a naturally occurring Benzopyrone compound. It is found in a large number of plants belonging to many different families including tonka beans, woodruff, lavender oil, cassia, melilot (sweet clover), and other plants. It is found in edible plants such as strawberries, cinnamon, peppermint, green tea, carrots, and celery, as well as in partially fermented tea, red wine, beer, and other foodstuffs. Concentrations range from 87 000 ppm in cassia and 40 000 ppm in cinnamon to 20 ppm in peppermint and 5 ppb in tangerines.

OccurrenceFound in many plants and essential oils such as cassia, melilot, orchid, lavender and balsam of Peru (Spth, 1937; Gildemeister & Hoffman, 1966).

Verwendencoumarin is considered a blood thinner, it can also increase blood flow. Some sources cite anti-oxidant capacities, as well. It is a specific plant constituent and is what creates the fragrance of freshly mowed hay. Coumarin is found in such plants as cherries, lavender, licorice, and sweet clover.

synthetischeCoumarin is currently produced by Perkin synthesis from salicylaldehyde. In the presence of sodium acetate, salicylaldehyde reacts with acetic anhydride to produce coumarin and acetic acid. The reaction is carried out in the liquid phase at elevated temperature.A process for the production of coumarin from hexahydrocoumarin by dehydrogenation has also been elaborated.Since the odor of coumarin is relatively weak, strong-smelling by-products (e.g., vinylphenol) must be removed. Many purification methods have been reported and patented.