Umbelliferone

• 7-hydroxycoumarin
• 7-hydroxy -2H- chromen- 2-one

Yellow needles

226-229 ° C (dec.)

Slightly soluble in ethanol, chloroform, and glacial acetic acid

Template: Infobox chemical / molecular formula search available

Umbelliferone (also: Hydrangin ) is a hydroxy derivative of coumarin, which is common in plants of the Umbelliferae ( Apiaceae ), eg lovage occurs. In UV light it shows a clear, blue fluorescence.

Use

Umbelliferone serves as a pH indicator in the range 6.5 to 8.9. In the form of a 0.1% aqueous solution as a fluorescent indicator for the detection of calcium and copper ions.

It is used in sunscreens and as an optical brightener for textiles, also it serves as a laser dye, while synthetic 7-O- glycosides are used for the fluorimetric determination of glycosidases.