Furoin

Furoin

Names
IUPAC name 1,2-bis(2-furyl)-2-hydroxy-ethanone
Identifiers
ChEMBL	ChEMBL364893
ChemSpider	10629
Jmol interactive 3D	Image
PubChem	11100
InChI InChI=1S/C10H8O4/c11-9(7-3-1-5-13-7)10(12)8-4-2-6-14-8/h1-6,9,11H Key: MIJRFWVFNKQQDK-UHFFFAOYSA-N
SMILES O=C(c1occc1)C(O)c2occc2
Properties
Chemical formula	C10H8O4
Molar mass	192.17 g·mol^−1
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Infobox references

Furoin or 1,2-di(furan-2-yl)-2-hydroxyethanone is an organic compound with formula C₁₀H₈O₄. It can be produced from furfural by the catalytic action of cyanide ions.^[1]

Reactions

Furoin synthesis from furfural is also catalyzed by vitamin B₁ (thiamine). In 1957, R. Breslow proposed that this reaction involves a relatively stable carbene form of thiamine:^[2][3] In the catalytic cycle shown below two molecules of furfural react to give furoin, via a thiazol-2-ylidene catalyst, resulting from loss of one proton at carbon 2 of the thiazolium cation of vitamin B₁:

Furoin formation from furfural, catalysed by thiamine

This was the first evidence for the existence of persistent carbenes.

Uses

Furoin has been used as a plasticizer.^[1]

References

1. Denis Lorient (1999), New ingredients in food processing: biochemistry and agriculture. Woodhead Publishing. ISBN 1-85573-443-5. 366 pages
2. Ronald Breslow (1957). "Mechanism of Thiamine Action: Participation of a Thiazolium Zwitterion". Chemistry and Industry 26: 893.
3. R. Breslow (1957). "Rapid Deuterium Exchange in Thiazolium Salts". Journal of the American Chemical Society 79 (7): 1762–1763. doi:10.1021/ja01564a064.