- Butenolide
Butenolides are a class of
lactone s with a four-carbon heterocyclic ring structure. They are sometimes considered oxidized derivatives offuran . The simplest butenolide is2-furanone , which is a common component of largernatural product s and is sometimes referred to as simply "butenolide". A common biochemically important butenolide isascorbic acid (vitamin C). Butenolide derivatives are produced by some plants on exposure to high temperatures due tobrush fire s. In particular, 3-methyl-2"H"-furo [2,3-"c"] pyran-2-one was found too trigger seedgermination in plants whose reproduction is fire-dependent.cite journal | author = Flematti GR, Ghisalberti EL, Dixon KW, Trengove RD | year = 2004 | title = A compound from smoke that promotes seed germination | journal = Science | volume = 305 | issue = 5686 | pages = 977 | doi = 10.1126/science.1099944]References
* Joule JA, Mills K. (2000). Heterocyclic Chemistry 4th ed. Blackwell Science Publishing: Oxford, UK.
External links
* [http://www.organic-chemistry.org/synthesis/heterocycles/butenolides.shtm Synthesis of butenolides]
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