{{Chembox <!-- Images --> | ImageFile = Kermesic acid.svg | ImageSize = 200px | ImageAlt = <!-- Names --> | IUPACName = 3,5,6,8-Tetrahydroxy-1-methyl-9,10-dioxoanthracene-2-carboxylic acid | OtherNames = {{bulleted list | C.I. Natural Red 3 | 1-Methyl-2-carboxy-3,5,6,8-tetrahydroxyanthraquinone }} <!-- Sections --> | Section1 = {{Chembox Identifiers | CASNo = 18499-92-8 | ChEBI = 90183 | ChemSpiderID = 9901950 | KEGG = C22689 | PubChem = 11727234 | UNII = 2A580G9V9I | StdInChI=1S/C16H10O8/c1-4-9-5(2-6(17)10(4)16(23)24)13(20)12-11(15(9)22)7(18)3-8(19)14(12)21/h2-3,17-19,21H,1H3,(H,23,24) | StdInChIKey = CXORMDKZEUMQHX-UHFFFAOYSA-N | SMILES = CC1=C2C(=CC(=C1C(=O)O)O)C(=O)C3=C(C2=O)C(=CC(=C3O)O)O }} | Section2 = {{Chembox Properties | C = 16 | H = 10 | O = 8 | Appearance = Red crystalline needles<ref name= lexicon >{{cite web | url = https://roempp.thieme.de/lexicon/RD-11-00819?searchterm=kermesic+acid&context=search | title = Kermessäure | work = Römpp's Chemistry Lexicon }}</ref> | Density = | MeltingPtC = 320 | MeltingPt_notes= (decomp.)<ref name= lexicon/> | BoilingPt = | Solubility = }} | Section3 = {{Chembox Hazards | MainHazards = | FlashPt = | AutoignitionPt = }} }}
'''Kermesic acid''' is an anthraquinone derivative and the main component of the red dye kermes (false carmine). The compound is the aglycone of carminic acid, the main component of true carmine. As a dye, it is known as Natural Red 3.
Kermesic acid, like carminic acid and the laccaic acids, is an insect dye obtained from scale insects. Kermesic acid is found in insects of the genus ''Kermes''. It is the only colored component of the dye kermes.<ref>{{Cite book | author = Mark C. Whiting | chapter = The dyes in early oriental carpets | editor = Society of German Chemists | title = Chemistry in our time | id = 15th year, no. 6 | publisher = Verlag Chemie GmbH | location = Weinheim | date = 1981 | pages = 179–189 }}</ref>
The chemical structure of kermesic acid was elucidated by Otto Dimroth in 1916.<ref>{{cite book | doi = 10.1007/978-3-663-05096-4 | title = Die chemische Erforschung der Naturfarbstoffe | date = 1921 | last1 = Brigl | first1 = P. | isbn = 978-3-663-03907-5 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | doi = 10.1002/jlac.19164110303 | title = I. Über den Farbstoff des Kermes | date = 1916 | last1 = Dimroth | first1 = Otto | last2 = Fick | first2 = Reinhold | journal = Justus Liebigs Annalen der Chemie | volume = 411 | issue = 3 | pages = 315–338 }}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
Category:Anthraquinones Category:Carboxylic acids
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