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Methoxyflavone Description and Analysis — Structure, Properties, and Use

What is Methoxyflavone?

Methoxyflavone belongs to the flavonoid class of organic compounds, often recognized for their occurrence in plants and potential health-related applications. Take a closer look and you notice methoxyflavone sets itself apart by its distinctive methoxy groups attached to the flavone backbone. These chemical modifications tweak the molecule’s behavior, changing both solubility and reactivity. From my time working with natural product extracts, I’ve seen firsthand how even a small structural tweak like a methoxy group can boost absorption rates or shift color under certain lab tests. Methoxyflavone typically appears as a fine solid, sometimes with a faint yellowish hue, and lends itself to use in both research and industrial settings.

Structural Characteristics

The core of methoxyflavone sits on a C15 skeleton, specifically the 2-phenylchromen-4-one structure, but what sets it apart is those methoxy groups, most often found at the 7 or 5 positions, though other substitutions do occur. The formula often reads as C16H12O4 for a mono-methoxy flavone, but multiple substitutions push the molecular weight upwards, influencing physical properties along the way. You might see it listed in chemical catalogs under various names, but that distinctive ring system remains constant. Its crystalline nature comes through during purification steps — as I’ve experienced, these flakes form slowly and can pack quite tight. Lab grade samples usually come in fine powder, though pearl and granular forms exist for bulk handling.

Physical and Chemical Properties

Methoxyflavone generally manifests as solid flakes or powdered crystals, with a melting point hovering around 180°C depending on precise substitution pattern. The density lands near 1.2 g/cm³, though different forms may show slight deviations. Solubility stands out: low in water, thanks to the methoxy side chains that shed hydrophilicity, but decent in ethanol, acetone, and other organic solvents — a handy point if you’ve tried dissolving difficult compounds in formulation work. The compound resists rapid degradation under ambient conditions, but like many organics, will break down with prolonged light or heat exposure. This stability lets manufacturers ship or store it in bulk for months at a time, but it’s always best to keep it sealed from air and light to maintain quality.

Specifications and Regulatory Details

Specifications tighten up around purity (often 98% or higher for raw material use), crystalline habit, and absence of contaminants or heavy metals. Bulk suppliers typically quote the HS Code for customs classification, which, for methoxyflavones, often falls under 2932.99. Chemical databases track the molecular formula (C16H12O4 or C17H14O5, as substitutions change), and precise structural diagrams give chemists a reference for analytical confirmation. You’ll get a chemical description listing density, melting point, solubility values, bulk material type (flakes, powder, pearls), and often safety designations — which matter for handling and storage rules.

Hazard, Safety, and Handling

Handling methoxyflavone follows typical chemical lab norms. As with many aromatic organics, you want to avoid direct inhalation and limit skin contact, since fine powders can cause mild irritation. Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) warn about hazardous dust generation and the need for suitable PPE — lab coats, gloves, and a dust mask or hood during weighing. Although methoxyflavone doesn’t snugly fit the profile of acutely hazardous chemicals, chronic exposure data remains limited, which always calls for careful storage and minimal unnecessary exposure. Fire risks run low under standard conditions but ramp up if exposed to flames or oxidizers. Transport and disposal procedures follow the standard protocols for non-halogenated aromatic solids.

Common Forms: Powder, Flakes, Pearls, and Solutions

In industry and the research lab, form determines function: powdered methoxyflavone speeds up mixing for small-scale applications or sample prep, flakes allow for cleaner weighing at scale, and pearl forms improve handling where dust control is a concern. Sometimes, large customers request custom solutions of methoxyflavone at specific concentrations — these liquids make high-throughput dosing easy, but require extra attention to solvent safety and storage. Whether you need gram-quantity vials or 25-kilo drums, suppliers tailor packages for both lab and big manufacturing sites. My own experience has shown that paying for the right form up front saves headaches in both the lab and on the factory floor.

Applications and Roles as a Raw Material

Methoxyflavone sees regular action as a chemical raw material in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, additives, and advanced materials. Its property set — excellent stability, modifiable structure, and multiple solvent compatibility — serves well in these roles. Researchers prize it for biological testing, especially in antioxidant and enzyme modulation studies. Formulators in pigment or coating fields look to these compounds for their lightfastness and color tuning — those who’ve worked in specialty chemicals will recognize how tight the margins run on purity and reproducibility.

Conclusion of Experience and Solutions

Staying aware of methoxyflavone’s physical characteristics helps technicians, researchers, and buyers avoid costly missteps. My work in contract R&D has taught me that understanding density, form, and safe storage turns what could be hazardous into routine chemical management. Focusing on comprehensive safety training, along with regular supplier audits and MSDS checks, addresses most challenges with hazardous materials. Companies who invest in high grade raw material and tightly specify physical state see fewer surprises in later stages of development. For anyone considering methoxyflavone as a raw material, the best solutions come from clear understanding of both molecular data and boots-on-the-ground handling realities.