2,3-Butanedithiol

2,3-Butanedithiol is an organic compound that falls into the category of alkylthiols, which are characterized by a thiol functional group attached to an alkyl chain. This colorless liquid has a distinctive broth-like aroma. Known for its beefy and meaty flavor, 2,3-Butanedithiol is commonly utilized as a synthetic flavoring agent in the food industry.

Light yellow transparent liquid. It is meaty, coffee, and garlicky. Boiling point 69~70℃(3732Pa). Insoluble in water, miscible in oil.

2,3-Butanedithiol is a food spice used in roast beef, salami, coffee and more.

ChEBI: 2,3-Butanedithiol is an alkanethiol.

The conformational landscape of 2,3-butanedithiol may be rationalized as the 2,3-diol analogue. Briefly, the two tetrahedral stereogenic centers at the central (2,3) carbons produce two pairs of homochiral (R,R and S,S) and heterochiral (R,S and S,R) or meso stereoisomers, which, unlike in other techniques, can be easily distinguished by their rotational spectrum[1].

[1] A, Marcos Juanes , et al. "Chirality, Structure and Hydrogen Bonding in Dithiols: Rotational Spectrum of the Chiral and Meso 2,3-Butanedithiol." Journal of Molecular Structure (2021).