Chemical Properties
Yellow crystal powder
Uses
An antimicrobial antioxidant dye isolated from Henna.
Uses
antifungal, sunscreen, antibacterial, antineoplastic
General Description
Yellow prisms or yellow powder.
Reactivity Profile
Phenols, such as 2-HYDROXY-1,4-NAPHTHOQUINONE(83-72-7), do not behave as organic alcohols, as one might guess from the presence of a hydroxyl (-OH) group in their structure. Instead, they react as weak organic acids. Phenols and cresols are much weaker as acids than common carboxylic acids (phenol has Ka = 1.3 x 10^[-10]). These materials are incompatible with strong reducing substances such as hydrides, nitrides, alkali metals, and sulfides. Flammable gas (H2) is often generated, and the heat of the reaction may ignite the gas. Heat is also generated by the acid-base reaction between phenols and bases. Such heating may initiate polymerization of the organic compound. Phenols are sulfonated very readily (for example, by concentrated sulfuric acid at room temperature). The reactions generate heat. Phenols are also nitrated very rapidly, even by dilute nitric acid. Nitrated phenols often explode when heated. Many of them form metal salts that tend toward detonation by rather mild shock.
Air & Water Reactions
Insoluble in water.
Health Hazard
ACUTE/CHRONIC HAZARDS: This compound may be absorbed through the skin and can cause skin irritation.
Fire Hazard
Flash point data for this chemical are not available but 2-HYDROXY-1,4-NAPHTHOQUINONE is probably combustible.
History
Lawsone (CI Natural Orange 6; CI 75420), also known as henna and isojuglone, occurs in the shrub henna (Lawsone alba). In England, the plant is known as Egyptian privet. The dye was extracted from the leaves of the plant, using sodium bicarbonate, and the extracts used to dye protein fibers an orange shade. Henna is probably the oldest cosmetic known. The ancient Egyptians used it as a hair dye and for staining fingernails. It is said that Mohammed dyed his beard with henna. Lawsone has been identified as 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone. It has been synthesized by the Thiele acetylation of 1,4-naphthoquinone followed by hydrolysis and oxidation.
Purification Methods
Crystallise Lawsone B from *C6H6 or AcOH (m 192.5o, 195-196o). It sublimes in a vacuum (m 194o). It has UV with max at 455nm (aqueous NaOH). [Beilstein 8 H 300, 8 I 635, 8 II 344, 8 III 2543, 8 IV 2360.]
