What is "aurone"

n. A heterocyclic chemical compound, a type of flavonoid, whose molecule contains a benzofuran element associated with a benzylidene linked in position 2.

Aurone is a heterocyclic chemical compound which is a type of flavonoid. There are two isomers of the molecule, with (E)- and (Z)-configurations. The molecule contains a benzofuran element associated with a benzylidene linked in position 2. In aurone, a chalcone-like group is closed into a 5-membered ring instead of the 6-membered ring more typical of flavonoids.

Aurone forms the core for a family of derivatives which are known collectively as aurones. Aurones are plant flavonoids that provide yellow color to the flowers of some popular ornamental plants, such as snapdragon and cosmos. Aurones including 4'-chloro-2-hydroxyaurone (CHOCl) and 4'-chloroaurone (CHOCl) can also be found in the brown alga Spatoglossum variabile.

Most aurones are in a (Z)-configuration, which is the more stable configuration according to Austin Model 1 computation, but there are also some in the (E)-configurations such as (E)-3'-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-4,5,6,4'-tetrahydroxy-7,2'-dimethoxyaurone, found in Gomphrena agrestis.

Analogy with flavonoids suggests that aurones could have interesting biological properties.