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Posted on: March 13, 2008 9:59 PM, by Molecule of the Day
Flavylium is an unusual heterocycle - it has a trivalent oxygen atom. These tend to be quite reactive - trialkyloxoniums, some of the most potent alkylating agents, contain them.
As in the case of tropylium, aromaticity saves the day again. What should be a very unstable compound ends up being fine even in water.
You might know flavylium from such pigments as cyanidin and delphinidin.
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Comments
Cyanidin and delphinidin are considered antioxidants in metabolism. Could flavylium be used as one?
Posted by: Old Bogus | March 14, 2008 12:26 AM