Chlorophyll a

Chlorophyll a
	Structure of 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. It is a poor absorber of green and near-green portions of the spectrum, which makes chlorophyll-containing tissues appear green. 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.