Gamma-Nonalactone (5-Pentyloxolan-2-one) is a colorless to pale yellow clear oily liquid. It is found in bourbon whiskey, black currant berries, melon, papaya, pineapple, fresh blackberry, etc.1,2 It has a creamy and coconut-like odor.3 It is used as a flavoring agent in food to give coconut flavor. It is also a potential multi-species attractant lure for grain beetle pests.4
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gamma-Nonalactone
- George A. Burdock, Encyclopedia of Food and Color Additives, Band 1, 1996, ISBN 0-8493-9416-3
- http://www.thegoodscentscompany.com
- https://www.sigmaaldrich.com
γ-Nonalactone has a strong odor reminiscent of coconut and a fatty, peculiar taste. May be synthesized by reacting methylacry- late and hexanol in the presence of ditertiarybutyl peroxide; by condensation of undecylenic acid and malonic acid; by lactonizα- tion of nonenoic acid.
gamma-Nonanolactone occurs in many foods
and is a pale yellow liquidwith a coconut-like aroma. It has numerous applications,
similarly to those of ??-octalactone, in aroma compositions and perfumery.
γ-Nonalactone has a strong odor reminiscent of coconut and a fatty, peculiar taste.
Reported found in peaches, apricots, roasted barely, rum, tomato, currants, guava, raisin, papaya, peach,
pineapple, blackberry, strawberry jam, asparagus, wheat and crispbread, Camembert cheese, butter, milk, chicken, beef, lamb and
pork fat, cooked beef and pork, beer, cognac, whiskies, sherry, grape wines, cocoa, green tea, pecan, oats, soybean, avocado, passion
fruit, plum, plumcot, beans, mushroom, starfruit, fenugreek, mango, tamarind, rice, prickly pear, buckwheat, licorice, malt, wort,
cherimoya, Bourbon vanilla, shrimp, nectarine, maté and sweet grass oil.
In flavor applications, this compound contributes to caramel notes. In fragrance applications, this compound contributes is used in amber, balsam, floral, juniper berry, nutmeg, pine, coconut, maple and oriental notes.
(γ-Nonalactone is one of the prominent, odour active compounds present in freshly cooked rice, and also has a coconut-like scent. γ-Nonalactone is also present in aging beers and other fermenting products.
(Gamma)-Nonalactone is a synthetic flavoring agent that is a colorless to yellow liquid of strong, coconut-like odor. It is soluble in most fixed oils, mineral oil, and propylene glycol. It is stable in acids and unstable in alkali and should be stored in glass, tin, or aluminum containers. It is used in coconut flavors and has application in gelatins, puddings, baked goods, candy, and ice cream at 11–55 ppm. It is also termed aldehyde c-18.
By reacting methylacrylate and hexanol in the presence of ditertiarybutyl peroxide; by condensation of undecylenic acid
and malonic acid by lactonization of nonenoic acid
Taste characteristics at 10 ppm: coconut, creamy, waxy with fatty milky notes
γ-Nonanoic lactone is an oak lactone commonly found in wines aged in oak barrels. It is the main flavor component of coconut. γ-Nonanoic lactone is also a potential multi-species attractant lure for grain beetle pests.
Flammability and Explosibility
Non flammable
Moderately toxic by
ingestion. A skin irritant. Mutation data
reported. Combustible liquid. When heated
to decomposition it emits acrid smoke and
irritating fumes. See also ALDEHYDES.
