Ethyl-2-(methylthio)acetate has a fruity odor.
clear colorless to slightly yellow liquid
Reported found in melon, apple, pineapple, durian, yellow passion fruit and kiwifruit.
Ethyl (methylthio)acetate is used as an internal standard during the analytical determination of volatile sulfur compounds in port wines. Further, it is used as food flavors.
Ethyl (methylthio)acetate was used as internal standard during the analytical determination of volatile sulfur compounds in port wines.
ChEBI: Ethyl 2-(methylthio)acetate is a carboxylic ester.
Detection: 250 ppb. Aroma characteristics at 1.0%: sweet, ethereal, rummy with a fruity sulfureous note,
slightly vegetative cauliflower with a garlic nuance.
Taste characteristics at 1 to 2 ppm: sweet, fruity melon with an uplifting rummy undertone.
Natural occurrence: Apple and melon.
Toluene (30 mL), ethanol (2.39 g, 169.59 mmol), and 2-(methylthio)acetic acid (15 g, 141.32 mmol) were sequentially added to a 100 mL round-bottomed flask at room temperature, followed by the addition of p-toluenesulfonic acid monohydrate (4.03 g, 21.20 mmol) as a catalyst. The reaction mixture was gently heated to reflux and the dehydration reaction was carried out for 3 to 5 hours. Upon completion of the reaction, the mixture was cooled to room temperature, followed by addition of triethylamine (2.86 g, 28.26 mmol) to neutralize the acidic catalyst and silica gel for adsorption. After brief stirring, the silica gel was removed by filtration. The filtrate was distilled under reduced pressure to remove the solvent and finally purified by distillation to give ethyl (methylthio)acetate (14.81 g, 78% yield).
[1] Patent: US2010/324314, 2010, A1. Location in patent: Page/Page column 15-16
[2] Combinatorial Chemistry and High Throughput Screening, 2011, vol. 14, # 2, p. 132 - 137
