Chemical Properties
clear colorless to yellowish liquid
Chemical Properties
Ethyl sorbate has a warm, fruity odor.
Occurrence
Reported found in cognac, white wine, special wine, botrytised wine, grape wine, starfruit, pawpaw and
prickly pear (Opuntia ficus-indica).
Definition
ChEBI: Ethyl sorbate is a fatty acid ester obtained by formal condensation of the carboxy group of sorbic acid and the hydroxy group of ethanol. It has a role as a metabolite. It is functionally related to a sorbic acid.
Preparation
By reacting gaseous HCl with a solution of sorbic acid in ethyl alcohol, or by direct esterification by reaction of sorbyl
chloride with absolute ethyl alcohol.
Taste threshold values
Taste characteristics at 30 ppm: fruity, sweet, green, pineapple, tutti fruity-like with juicy tropical nuance.
General Description
Ethyl sorbate is an active compound for electroantennographic detection.
Synthesis
Prod.: by direct esterification of Ethanol with Sorbic acid, e.g. under azeotropic conditions. The acid is obtained from Crotonaldehyde plus MaIonic acid.