coumarin

coumarin
/kooh"meuh rin/, n.
a fragrant crystalline substance, C9H6O2, obtained from the tonka bean, sweet clover, and certain other plants or prepared synthetically, used chiefly in soaps and perfumery.
Also, cumarin.
[1820-30; < F coumarine, equiv. to coumar(ou) tonka-bean tree ( < Sp cumarú < Pg < Tupi cumaru) + -ine -IN2]

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      an organic compound having the characteristic odour of new-mown hay, obtainable from the tonka tree (native to Guyana) or by chemical synthesis. It is used in perfumes and flavourings and for the preparation of other chemicals.

      Coumarin belongs to the heterocyclic class of organic compounds, because its molecule contains a ring of atoms of more than one element. The presence of coumarin in the tonka bean, in which it occurs combined with the sugar glucose, was observed in 1820; its synthesis in 1868 by the English chemist Sir William Henry Perkin was the first application of a general chemical reaction now known by his name.

      Several other compounds present in plants, either free or combined with glucose, possess the coumarin structure. One of these is dicoumarol, first isolated from spoiled sweet clover hay; it is used in medicine to reduce the tendency of the blood to clot.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Coumarin — Cou ma*rin (k[=oo] m[.a]*r[i^]n), n. [F., fr. coumarou, a tree of Guiana.] (Chem.) The concrete essence of the tonka bean, the fruit of {Dipterix (formerly Coumarouna) odorata} and consisting essentially of coumarin proper, which is a white… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Coumarin — (Chem.), so v.w. Cumarin …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • coumarin — [ko͞o′mə rin΄] n. [Fr coumarine < coumarou, tonka bean < Port < Tupí cumaru] a toxic, white crystalline substance, C9H6O2, with the odor of vanilla, obtained from the tonka bean and certain plants or made synthetically: used in perfumes …   English World dictionary

  • Coumarin — Not to be confused with coumadin or dicoumarol. This article is about the sweet smelling plant substance called coumarin. For the anticoagulant rodenticide poisons often called coumarins or coumadins , see 4 hydroxycoumarins. Coumarin …   Wikipedia

  • Coumarin — Strukturformel Allgemeines Name Cumarin Andere Namen 1,2 Benzopyron 2H 1 Benzopyran 2 on o Cumarsäurelacton Ton …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • coumarin — (= O hydroxycinnamic acid) Pleasant smelling compound found in many plants and released on wilting (probably a major component of the smell of fresh hay). Has anticoagulant activity by competing with Vitamin K. Coumarin derivatives have anti… …   Dictionary of molecular biology

  • coumarin — 1. A general descriptive term applied to anticoagulants and other drugs derived from dicumarol, a component of the Tonka bean. 2. A fragrant neutral principle obtained from the Tonka bean, Dypterix odorata, and made synthetically from salicylic… …   Medical dictionary

  • coumarin — kumarinas statusas T sritis chemija formulė OC₉H₆(=O) atitikmenys: angl. coumarin rus. кумарин ryšiai: sinonimas – 1 benzpiran 2 onas …   Chemijos terminų aiškinamasis žodynas

  • coumarin — noun Etymology: French coumarine, from coumarou tonka bean tree, from Spanish or Portuguese; Spanish cumarú, from Portuguese, from Tupi *kumarú, *kumbarú Date: 1830 a toxic white crystalline lactone C9H6O2 with an odor of new mown hay found in… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • coumarin — noun the bicyclic aromatic compound 1,2 benzopyrone or any of its derivatives …   Wiktionary

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