Dihydrochalcone (DHC) is the organic compound with the formula C6H5C(O)(CH2)2C6H5. It is the reduced derivative of chalcone (C6H5C(O)(CH)2C6H5). It is a white solid that is soluble in many organic solvents. Dihydrochalcone per se is often minor significance, but some derivatives occur in nature and have attracted attention as drugs.
The formation of dihydrochalcones removes the conjugation between the two ring systems (via the ketone) when the double bond is abolished. This causes the visible color of the chalcones to disappear in their dihydrochalcone derivatives.
Natural dihydrochalcones
Aspalathin, a C-linked dihydrochalcone glucoside found in rooibos, a common herbal tea Naringin dihydrochalcone, an artificial sweetener derived from naringin Neohesperidin dihydrochalcone, an artificial sweetener derived from citrus Nothofagin, a C-linked phloretin glucoside found in rooibos Phloretin Isosalipurpurin
Dihydrochalcones (3′,5′-dihydroxy-2′,4′,6′-trimethoxydihydrochalcone (methyl linderone) and 2′-hydroxy-3′,4′,5′,6′-tetramethoxydihydrochalcone (dihydrokanakugiol) can be found in twigs of Lindera lucida.A dihydrochalcone from Lindera lucida. Yuan-Wah Leong, Leslie J. Harrison, Graham J. Bennett, Azizol A. Kadir and Joseph D. Connolly, Phytochemistry, Volume 47, Issue 5, March 1998, Pp. 891-894, Uses A known use of dihydrochalcone is in the synthesis of 3-phenylindene [1961-97-3]. This in-turn finds application in the synthesis of Indriline & Pyrophendane [7009-69-0]. References