Chemical Properties
4-Mercapto-4-methyl-2-pentanone is repellent when neat or in high concentrations. It has a meaty, black currant-like
odor. It is used to create the “catty note” (cat-like) of black currant.
Occurrence
Reportedly present in sauvignon grapes, cabernet sauvignon wine, beer, green tea and grapefruit juice.
Uses
4-Mercapto-4-methyl-2-pentanone is one of the most strongly contributing odorants in the volatile fraction of a Japanese green tea (sen-cha) infusion, and on the basis of the results of an aroma extract dilution analysis. 4-mercapto-4-methyl-2-pentanone in the grapefruit/sulfury group was found in reconstituted concentrate after thermal concentration.
Definition
ChEBI: An alkylthiol that is 4-methylpentan-2-one substituted at position 4 by a mercapto group.
Aroma threshold values
Odor threshold in water, 0.0001 to 0.005 ppb (for 2-mercapto-2-methyl-4-pentanone).
