Whiskey Lactone

Product Name:

Whiskey lactone

CAS:

39212-23-2

MF:

C9H16O2

MW:

156.22

EINECS:

254-357-4

Mol File:

39212-23-2.mol

Boiling point 

93-94 °C5 mm Hg(lit.)

density 

0.952 g/mL at 25 °C(lit.)

FEMA 

3803 | 4-HYDROXY-3-METHYLOCTANOIC ACID LACTONE

refractive index 

n20/D 1.4454(lit.)

Fp 

>230 °F

JECFA Number

437

CAS DataBase Reference

39212-23-2(CAS DataBase Reference)

NIST Chemistry Reference

2(3H)-furanone, 5-butyldihydro-4-methyl-(39212-23-2)

EPA Substance Registry System

2(3H)-Furanone, 5-butyldihydro-4-methyl- (39212-23-2)

Hazard Codes 

Xi

Risk Statements 

36/37/38

Safety Statements 

26-36-37/39

WGK Germany 

2

Chemical Properties

Whiskey Lactone is found as its cis- and trans-isomers in whiskey and in oakwood volatiles; the cis-isomer is the more important in sensory terms. It is a clear, almost colorless liquid with an intense, warm, sweet, coumarin-like odor.
A cis–trans mixture can be prepared by radical addition reaction of pentanal with crotonic acid followed by reductive cyclization of the resulting ??-oxo acid with sodium boron hydride/sulfuric acid . It is used in aroma compositions, for example, for beverages.

Aroma threshold values

80% of a taste panel found whiskey lactone intolerable at 160 ppm

Taste threshold values

Taste characteristics at 0.5 ppm: woody, coumarinic, coconut, lactonic, creamy and nutty with a toasted nuance.

Trade name

Methyl octalactoneTM (PFW)