5-Ethyl-3-hydroxy-4-methyl-2(5H)-furanone has a sweet, maple, caramel odor.
Abhexone has been found in, for example, lovage and roasted coffee. It
has a bouillon-like, coffee and lovage aroma, depending on its concentration. It can
be prepared starting from alkyl 2-oxobutanoate either by self-condensation followed
subsequently by decarbomethoxylation or by condensation with propionaldehyde
and subsequent cyclization . Alkyl 2-oxobutanoate is available
from acrylaldehyde and sodium cyanide via alkyl 2-hydroxy-3-butenoate or
by reaction of dialkyloxalate with ethyl magnesium bromide . It is used for
aromatization of food.
Reported found in coffee.
5-Ethyl-3-hydroxy-4-methyl-2(5H)-furanone is an odorant found in grape stems, Jura Flor-Sherry wines and roasted arabica coffee.
ChEBI: 5-ethyl-3-hydroxy-4-methyl-2(5H)-furanone is a butenolide. It has a role as a metabolite.
Taste characteristics at 50 ppm: sweet, fruity with brown maple note.
