Flavylium

Flavylium (CAS 14051-53-7), also referenced as the flavylium cation in colorant chemistry, is the core structural scaffold underlying anthocyanin-based natural pigments. It defines the chromophore responsible for the red, purple, and blue hues found across plant-derived colorant systems. Industrial interest centers on its role as a reference compound and synthetic intermediate for developing pH-responsive colorants and natural dye analogs. In food and nutrition, flavylium-based structures are studied and applied as the functional basis for anthocyanin colorants.

These colorants are used in beverages, confectionery, and dairy products where natural hue stability is a formulation target. Printing and packaging applications leverage its pH-sensitive color-switching behavior to develop smart inks and indicator labels. These labels signal freshness or environmental changes. Formulators working on natural dye replacement programs use flavylium derivatives as benchmarks when screening synthetic or semi-synthetic colorant candidates. Research and QA laboratories source it as an analytical reference standard.

This standard is essential for anthocyanin quantification and colorant authentication work. Flavylium is typically available as a solid salt form, most commonly as the perchlorate or chloride salt, in research and specialty chemical quantities. Supply is primarily positioned at laboratory and development scale rather than bulk commodity volumes. Technical and research-grade specifications are standard; food-grade supply is not a recognized commercial format for this compound.