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The simplest butenolide, 2-furanone.

3-Methyl-2H-furo[2,3-cpyran-2-one, found in "smokewater"^[1]

Butenolides are a class of lactones with a four-carbon heterocyclic ring structure. They are sometimes considered oxidized derivatives of furan. The simplest butenolide is 2-furanone, which is a common component of larger natural products and is sometimes referred to as simply "butenolide". A common biochemically important butenolide is ascorbic acid (vitamin C). Butenolide derivatives are produced by some plants on exposure to high temperatures due to brush fires. In particular, 3-methyl-2H-furo[2,3-cpyran-2-one was found too trigger seed germination in plants whose reproduction is fire-dependent.^[1]

References

• Joule JA, Mills K. (2000). Heterocyclic Chemistry 4th ed. Blackwell Science Publishing: Oxford, UK.

1. ^ ^{a b} Flematti GR, Ghisalberti EL, Dixon KW, Trengove RD (2004). "A compound from smoke that promotes seed germination". Science 305 (5686): 977. doi:10.1126/science.1099944. 

External links

• Synthesis of butenolides

Wikipedia content modification information:

• This page was last modified on 18 July 2008, at 17:43.

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