A CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS ALKALINE CLEVAGE OF FLAVONOID COMPOUNDS . CHROMATOGRAPHIC AND SPECTROPHOTOMETRIC INDENTIFICATION OF DEGRADATION PRODUCTS

Investigations of the effect of alkaline hydrolysis and alkaline fusion on the degradation of flavone aglycons showed, that quant. cleavage can take place through alkaline hydrolysis without simultaneous cleavage of methyl groups from methoxylated compounds. On both, alkaline hydrolysis and fusion, the benzo-γ-pyrone group gives rise additionally to small quantities of phenols which possess one hydroxyl group less than expected. On chromatographic identification of the cleavage products using diazonium compounds, certain colour differences were apparent, depending on whether silicagel layers, cellulose layers or paper strips were used. Identification of degradation products was further aided by a study of the spectral data. © 1969 Springer-Verlag.