Furoin
Introduction '''Furoin''' or '''1,2-di(furan-2-yl)-2-hydroxyethanone''' is an organic compound with formula C10H8O4.It can be produced from furfural by a benzoin condensation reaction catalyzed by cyanide ions.
Reactions Furoin synthesis from furfural is also catalyzed by vitamin B1 (thiamine). In 1957, Ronald Breslow proposed that this reaction involves a relatively stable carbene form of thiamine. 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 thiamineThis was the first evidence for the existence of persistent carbenes.
Uses Furoin has been used as a plasticizer.
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