Fluorescent Benzofuran from Styrax Officinalis

[scarmani]

The Paper:

"High fluorescence emissions of some natural benzofurane derivatives isolated from Styrax officinalis"  [the seed oil]

http://www.photobiology.com/photoiupac2000/alp/

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The Compound (Egonol):



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The Plant (Snowdrop Bush):

http://www.botgard.ucla.edu/html/MEMBGNewsletter/Volume5number2/Styraxofficinalis.html

http://www.calacademy.org/research/botany/wildflow/names/051864.htm

plant descriptions

http://131.152.161.2/bilder/35/y/3563.jpg

http://www.biologie.uni-ulm.de/systax/dendrologie/styraoffw.jpg

http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/faculty/carr/images/sty_off_mid.jpg

more nice pictures of the plant

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I thought this was slightly interesting because it contains both benzofuran and methylenedioxyphenyl components; both interesting skeletons to substitute for active amines.  probably not a useful precursor, but it's pretty fluorescent.