4-Hydroxy-3-formylcoumarin

4-Hydroxy-3-formylcoumarin is a coumarin derivative that has been shown to have antitumor activity in vivo against the L1210 murine leukemia. It has also been shown to be effective against the tetranuclear form of the cancer cells. 4-Hydroxy-3-formylcoumarin is also an important molecule for testing, as it is able to inhibit the growth of other types of tumor cells. This molecule has been found to be stable at neutral pH and in anhydrous sodium chloride solution. 4-Hydroxy-3-formylcoumarin can exist as two tautomeric forms: the erythro and threo isomers. The erythro form is more stable, with a higher activation energy than the threo form, which makes it more reactive for biological purposes.