 trans-Resveratrol

trans-Resveratrol is the resveratrol stereoisomer with the two aryl groups on opposite sides of the central double bond, corresponding to the $E$ configuration. It retains the three hydroxy groups and neutral molecular formula ${\mathrm{C}}_{14}{\mathrm{H}}_{12}{\mathrm{O}}_3$ of resveratrol. ChEBI specifies the double-bond geometry explicitly, unlike the geometry-unspecified parent record.^[ref]

The geometry affects the optical measurement. Brent C. Trela and Andrew L. Waterhouse reported an ethanol absorption maximum at $308\mathrm{nm}$ and a molar absorption coefficient of $30000\mathrm{L}\mathrm{mo}{\mathrm{l}}^{-1}\mathrm{c}{\mathrm{m}}^{-1}$ for this isomer. They tested chemical stability under different light and pH conditions.^[ref]

For an original Beer-Lambert law calculation under those stated spectral conditions, $10\mu \mathrm{mol}{\mathrm{L}}^{-1}$ in a $1\mathrm{cm}$ path givesThe calculation assumes a suitable homogeneous solution of the specified isomer, correctly subtracted background and the stated wavelength and solvent. A different solvent, wavelength or isomer mixture requires the corresponding optical model.

The trans and cis forms have the same molar mass, so weighing alone cannot determine their proportions. Illumination can also change a preparation after it has been weighed. Separating the species by chromatography and using appropriate wavelength-dependent response factors addresses a different question from merely measuring total formula-based mass. This chemical identity does not, by itself, establish a biological benefit.