A golden opportunity: benzofuranone modifications of aurones and their influence on optical properties, toxicity, and potential as dyes

Aurones are a small subclass of the flavonoid family known primarily for their unusual structure and the golden yellow color they impart to the flowers of snapdragons and cosmos. Most studies of aurones focus on their range of biological activities, but relatively little has been reported with respect to their optical properties, unlike their aza and thio analogs. What little is known has focused entirely on the influence of the benzylidene portion. In this study, the influence of substitution in the benzofuranone ring on the UV–vis spectrum is explored, as well as an initial screening of their toxicity and a qualitative preliminary study of their potential to act as fabric dyes.