Retrochalcone


A retrochalcone is a chalcone-like compound in which the normally present hydroxy groups at the 2' and 6' positions are missing. The retrochalcone structure has a propenal bridge connected to two benzene rings at each end. The ring closest to the oxygen, is labelled with primed numbers, normally with a hydroxy group at the 4' position. This is the A ring. The ring closest to the double bond is numbered with simple digits starting from 1 at the bridge connection. This is the B ring. There is usually a hydroxy group at the 4 position. The retrochalcones are found naturally where they are derivatives of flavones.
Retrochalcones can be classed as minor flavinoids.
One example derivative is echinatin. It has systematic name -1--3--2-propen-1-one, or derived name 4',4-dihydroxy-2-methoxychalcone and was found in Glycyrrhiza echinata.

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