Methyl anisate

Description

Methyl anisate is the methyl ester of p-anisic acid.

Chemical properties

white crystalline mass

Chemical properties

Methyl anisate has a herbaceous, anise-like odor and a sweet taste similar to melon.

Chemical properties

Methyl anisate has an herbaceous, anise-like odor and a sweet taste similar to melon.

Occurrence

Reported found in the mushroom variety Trametes graveolens, feyoa fruit and peel (Feijoa sellowiana), white wine, cocoa, tea, guava, starfruit, Bourbon vanilla, Tahiti vanilla, mountain papaya, sapodilla fruit and Illicium verum.

The Uses of Methyl anisate

Methyl p-anisate has been used as a standard for the quantification of odorant compounds in French mimosa absolute oil by GC-Sniffing.

Definition

ChEBI: A benzoate ester obtained by the formal condensation of the carboy group of 4-methoxybenzoic acid with methanol.

Preparation

By esterification of anisic acid with methanol or from sodium anisate, dimethyl sulfate and small amounts of methanol.

Aroma threshold values

Aroma characteristics at 10.0%: sweet, creamy, anisic vanillalike, slightly spicy, woody and powdery heliotropine-like.

Taste threshold values

Taste characteristics at 10 ppm: spicy, sweet, anisic-like with a woody vanilla, licorice and methyl salicylate nuances and with a lingering sweet coumarin vanilla aftertaste.

Synthesis Reference(s)

Tetrahedron Letters, 33, p. 1959, 1992 DOI: 10.1016/0040-4039(92)88113-J

General Description

Methyl p-anisate is a volatile compound released from Mycobacterium tuberculosis and is detected in the breath of tuberculosis patients. It is a potential biomarker for mycobacteria.

Biochem/physiol Actions

Taste at 10 ppm

Safety Profile

Low toxicity by ingestion and skincontact. A skin irritant. When heated todecomposition it emits acrid smoke and irritating fumes.

Solubility in organics

Soluble in alcohol and oils. Poorly soluble in Propylene glycol.

Purification Methods

Distil the ester and/or crystallise it from EtOH. [Beilstein 10 H 159, 10 III 297, 10 IV 360.]