Lycopene

Lycopene

Names
IUPAC name (6E,8E,10E,12E,14E,16E,18E,20E,22E,24E,26E)- 2,6,10,14,19,23,27,31-Octamethyldotriaconta-2,6,8,10,12,14,16,18,20,22,24,26,30-tridecaene
Other names ψ,ψ-Carotene
Identifiers
CAS Number	502-65-8 Y
3D model (Jmol)	Interactive image
ChEBI	CHEBI:15948 Y
ChEMBL	ChEMBL501174 Y
ChemSpider	394156 Y
ECHA InfoCard	100.007.227
EC Number	207-949-1
E number	E160d (colours)
PubChem	446925
UNII	SB0N2N0WV6 Y
InChI InChI=1S/C40H56/c1-33(2)19-13-23-37(7)27-17-31-39(9)29-15-25-35(5)21-11-12-22-36(6)26-16-30-40(10)32-18-28-38(8)24-14-20-34(3)4/h11-12,15-22,25-32H,13-14,23-24H2,1-10H3/b12-11+,25-15+,26-16+,31-17+,32-18+,35-21+,36-22+,37-27+,38-28+,39-29+,40-30+ Y Key: OAIJSZIZWZSQBC-GYZMGTAESA-N Y InChI=1/C40H56/c1-33(2)19-13-23-37(7)27-17-31-39(9)29-15-25-35(5)21-11-12-22-36(6)26-16-30-40(10)32-18-28-38(8)24-14-20-34(3)4/h11-12,15-22,25-32H,13-14,23-24H2,1-10H3/b12-11+,25-15+,26-16+,31-17+,32-18+,35-21+,36-22+,37-27+,38-28+,39-29+,40-30+ Key: OAIJSZIZWZSQBC-GYZMGTAEBZ
SMILES C(\C=C\C=C(\CC/C=C(\C)C)C)(=C/C=C/C(=C/C=C/C=C(/C=C/C=C(/C=C/C=C(\C)CC\C=C(/C)C)C)C)C)C
Properties
Chemical formula	C40H56
Molar mass	536.89 g·mol−1
Appearance	deep red solid
Density	0.889 g/cm3
Melting point	172–173 °C (342–343 °F; 445–446 K)
Boiling point	660.9 °C (1,221.6 °F; 934.0 K) at 760 mmHg
Solubility in water	insoluble
Solubility	soluble in CS2, CHCl3, THF, ether, C6H14, vegetable oil insoluble in CH3OH, C2H5OH
Solubility in hexane	1 g/L (14 °C)
Vapor pressure	1.33·10−16 mmHg (25 °C)
Hazards
Main hazards	Combustible
Safety data sheet	See: data page
NFPA 704	1 0 0
Flash point	350.7 °C (663.3 °F; 623.8 K)
Supplementary data page
Structure and properties	Refractive index (n), Dielectric constant (εr), etc.
Thermodynamic data	Phase behaviour solid–liquid–gas
Spectral data	UV, IR, NMR, MS
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
Y  (what is YN ?)
Infobox references

Lycopene from the neo-Latin lycopersicum, the tomato species, is a bright red carotene and carotenoid pigment and found in tomatoes and other red fruits and vegetables, such as red carrots, watermelons, gac, and papayas, although not in strawberries, or cherries. Although lycopene is chemically a carotene, it has no vitamin A activity. Foods that are not red may also contain lycopene, such as asparagus and parsley.

In plants, algae, and other photosynthetic organisms, lycopene is an important intermediate in the biosynthesis of many carotenoids, including beta carotene, which is responsible for yellow, orange, or red pigmentation, photosynthesis, and photo-protection. Like all carotenoids, lycopene is a polyunsaturated hydrocarbon, i.e. an unsubstituted alkene. Structurally, lycopene is a tetraterpene and assembled from eight isoprene units that are composed entirely of carbon and hydrogen. It is insoluble in water. Lycopene's eleven conjugated double bonds give its deep red color and its antioxidant activity. Owing to the strong color, lycopene is a useful food coloring (registered as E160d) and is approved for usage in the USA, Australia and New Zealand (registered as 160d) and the EU.

Lycopene is not an essential nutrient for humans, but is commonly found in the diet mainly from dishes prepared from tomatoes. When absorbed from the intestine, lycopene is transported in the blood by various lipoproteins and accumulates primarily in the blood, adipose tissue, skin, liver, and adrenal glands, but can be found in most tissues.