Brasilin

Hypernic extract

Description

The water-soluble colorant extracted from brazilwood and sappanwood. Brasilin oxidizes in air to form brasilein which is soluble in water. It is used as a dye, ink for red and purple colors. Brasilin is also used as an acid-base indicator turning yellow in acid and bright red in alkali.

See Brazilwood dye.

Synonyms and Related Terms

Natural Red 24; CI 75280; brasileina (Esp.); brasiliini (Fin.); brasilina (It.); brasileína (Port.); brazilein; brazilin; Brazilwood extract; permambuco extract; hypernic extract

Risks

Sensitive to air and light.

Physical and Chemical Properties

Yellow, needle-like crystalline solid

Soluble in water, ethanol, ether, alkalis.

Composition	C16H14O5
Melting Point	130 C (dec)
Molecular Weight	mol. wt. = 286.28

Resources and Citations

• Richard S. Lewis, Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary, Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 10th ed., 1993

• The Merck Index, Martha Windholz (ed.), Merck Research Labs, Rahway NJ, 10th edition, 1983 Comment: entry 1392

• Website: http://www.coloria.net/varita.htm - Finnish name