3824. Ethyl Maltol

Nomenclature

CAS number: 4940-11-8
2-Ethyl-3-hydroxy-4H-pyran-4-one; 2-ethylpyromeconic acid; Veltol-Plus.
C7H8O3; mol wt 140.14.
C 59.99%, H 5.75%, O 34.25%.

Description and references

Synthetic analog of maltol, q.v. Prepn: C. R. Stephens, Jr. et al., BE 651427; C. R. Stephens, Jr., R. P. Allingham, US 3376317 (1965, 1968 both to Pfizer). Synthesis: I. Ichimoto, C. Tatsumi, Agric. Biol. Chem. 34, 961 (1970). Toxicity studies: E. J. Gralla et al., Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 15, 604 (1969). GC determn in apple juice: S. W. Gunner et al., J. AOAC Int. 51, 959 (1968). Solid phase microextraction and microwave assisted extraction fom food products: Y. Wang et al., J. High Resolut. Chromatogr. 20, 213 (1997). Metabolism in dogs: H. H. Rennhard, J. Agric. Food Chem. 19, 152 (1971). Crystal structures of polymorphs: S. D. Brown et al., Acta Crystallogr. C51, 1335 (1995). Review of use as a food additive: D. T. LeBlanc, H. A. Akers, Food Technol. 43, 78-84 (1989).

Chemical structure

Properties

Crystals from chloroform, mp 89-90° (Ichimoto). Also reported as crystals from water, mp 89-92° (Gunner). Cotton candy, caramel-like odor. uv max (methanol): 278 nm (ε 8200). LD50 orally in male mice, male rats, female rats, chicks (mg/kg): 780, 1150, 1200, 1270 (Gralla).

Use

Flavor and fragrance enhancer in foods, esp baked goods, beverages, and synthetic berry and citrus flavorings; minimizes undesirable flavors in tobacco products, cough syrup, vitamins, cosmetics, and saccharin-containing products.