furan

fu·ran   (fyŏŏr'ān', fyŏŏ-rān')    n.   One of a group of colorless, volatile, heterocyclic organic compounds containing a ring of four carbon atoms and one oxygen atom, obtained from wood oils and used in the synthesis of furfural and other organic compounds. The simplest such compound, C4H4O. Also called furfuran. [fur(fural) + -an2.]

Main Entry: fu·ran
Pronunciation: 'fyu(&)r-"an, fyu-'ran
Variant: also fu·rane /'fyu(&)r-"An, fyu-'rAn/
Function:noun
: a flammable liquid C₄H₄O obtained from oils of pines or made synthetically and used especially in organic synthesis; also : a derivativeof furan

furan fu·ran (fy&oobreve;r'ān', fy&oobreve;-rān')
n.
Any of a group of colorless, volatile, heterocyclic organic compounds containing a ring of four carbon atoms and one oxygen atom, used in the synthesis of organics.

furan   (fyr'ān', fy-rān')  Pronunciation Key  Any of a group of colorless, volatile, organic compounds containing a ring of four carbon atoms and one oxygen atom. Furans are obtained from wood oils and used in the synthesis of many organic compounds. The simplest such compound, consisting of a furan ring with two double bonds and attached to four hydrogen atoms. Chemical formula: C4H4O.

furan

any of a class of organic compounds of the heterocyclic aromatic series characterized by a ring structure composed of one oxygen atom and four carbon atoms. The simplest member of the furan family is furan itself, a colourless, volatile, and somewhat toxic liquid that boils at 31.36 C (88.45 F). It is usually converted by hydrogenation to tetrahydrofuran, which is used as a solvent and for production of adipic acid and hexamethylenediamine, the raw materials for nylon-6,6. Several other members of the furan family are produced on a large scale for use as solvents and chemical raw materials. The first furan compound discovered was pyromucic acid (2-furoic acid), prepared in 1780. The aldehyde furfural, used as a solvent in petroleum refining, is manufactured from corn cobs and oat hulls by treatment with acid.

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