Chlorophyll a

Chlorophyll a
Names
	IUPAC name Chlorophyll a
	Systematic IUPAC name Magnesium [methyl (3S,4S,21R)-14-ethyl-4,8,13,18-tetramethyl-20-oxo-3-(3-oxo-3-{[(2E,7R,11R)-3,7,11,15-tetramethyl-2-hexadecen-1-yl]oxy}propyl)-9-vinyl-21-phorbinecarboxylatato(2−)-κ2N,N′]
	Other names α-Chlorophyll
Identifiers
CAS Number	479-61-8 ;
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image; Interactive image;
ChemSpider	16736115 ;
ECHA InfoCard	100.006.852
EC Number	207-536-6;
PubChem CID	6433192;
RTECS number	FW6420000;
UNII	YF5Q9EJC8Y ;
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID90889346 ;
	InChI InChI=1S/C55H73N4O5.Mg/c1-13-39-35(8)42-28-44-37(10)41(24-25-48(60)64-27-26-34(7)23-17-22-33(6)21-16-20-32(5)19-15-18-31(3)4)52(58-44)50-51(55(62)63-12)54(61)49-38(11)45(59-53(49)50)30-47-40(14-2)36(9)43(57-47)29-46(39)56-42;/h13,26,28-33,37,41,51H,1,14-25,27H2,2-12H3,(H-,56,57,58,59,61);/q-1;+2/p-1/b34-26+;/t32-,33-,37+,41+,51-;/m1./s1 Key: ATNHDLDRLWWWCB-AENOIHSZSA-M ; InChI=1S/C55H73N4O5.Mg/c1-13-39-35(8)42-28-44-37(10)41(24-25-48(60)64-27-26-34(7)23-17-22-33(6)21-16-20-32(5)19-15-18-31(3)4)52(58-44)50-51(55(62)63-12)54(61)49-38(11)45(59-53(49)50)30-47-40(14-2)36(9)43(57-47)29-46(39)56-42;/h13,26,28-33,37,41,51H,1,14-25,27H2,2-12H3,(H-,56,57,58,59,61);/q-1;+2/p-1/b34-26+;/t32?,33?,37-,41-,51+;/m0./s1 Key: ATNHDLDRLWWWCB-WJQLOWBJSA-M;
	SMILES CCC1=C(C2=NC1=CC3=C(C4=C([N-]3)C(=C5[C@H]([C@@H](C(=N5)C=C6C(=C(C(=C2)[N-]6)C=C)C)C)CCC(=O)OC/C=C(\C)/CCCC(C)CCCC(C)CCCC(C)C)[C@H](C4=O)C(=O)OC)C)C.[Mg+2]; COC(=O)C9C(=O)c6c(C)c3N7c6c9c2C(CCC(=O)COCC=C(C)CCCC(C)CCCC(C)CCCC(C)C)C(C)c1cc5N8c(cc4n([Mg]78n12)c(c=3)c(CC)c4c)c(C=C)c5C;
Properties
Chemical formula	C55H72MgN4O5
Molar mass	893.509 g·mol−1
Appearance	Dark green powder
Odor	Odorless
Density	1.079 g/cm3
Melting point	~ 152.3 °C (306.1 °F; 425.4 K); decomposes
Solubility in water	Insoluble
Solubility	Very soluble in ethanol, ether; Soluble in ligroin, acetone, benzene, chloroform
Absorbance	See text
	Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). verify (what is ?) Infobox references

Chlorophyll a is a specific form of chlorophyll used in oxygenic photosynthesis. It absorbs most energy from wavelengths of violet-blue and orange-red light, and it is a poor absorber of green and near-green portions of the spectrum. Chlorophyll does not reflect light but chlorophyll-containing tissues appear green because green light is diffusively reflected by structures like cell walls. This photosynthetic pigment is essential for photosynthesis in eukaryotes, cyanobacteria and prochlorophytes because of its role as primary electron donor in the electron transport chain. Chlorophyll a also transfers resonance energy in the antenna complex, ending in the reaction center where specific chlorophylls P680 and P700 are located.