4-vinyl guaiacol

Technical specification

Assessment

The best way to evaluate spicy flavours in soft drinks from 4-vinyl guaiacol is as follows. Cover the sample with your hand and swirl the glass to release the aroma. Remove your hand and take a single long sniff. Repeat as necessary.

Amount of flavour per capsule

900 µg per capsule

Threshold

The flavour threshold of 4-vinyl guaiacol in soft drinks is 300 µg / l.

Origins

4-Vinyl guaiacol arises through decarboxylation of ferulic acid by contaminant yeasts and moulds. Ferulic acid is a common constituent of food and beverages originating from plant cell wall materials.

Importance

4-Vinyl guaiacol Imparts an unusual spicy note to soft drinks, which is reminiscent of cloves or German wheat beer. Since it is produced in soft drinks and juices by contaminant yeast and moulds, other metabolites (such as styrene) may also be formed.

CAS registry number

The CAS registry number for 4-vinyl guaiacol is 7786-61-0.

Other names

• 4-vinyl-2-methoxyphenol
• 4-ethenyl-2-methoxyphenol
• 2-hydroxy-3-methoxystyrene
• 4-hydroxy-3-methoxystyrene
• 4-hydroxy-3-methoxyvinyl benzene
• 2-methoxy-4-vinyl phenol
• varamol
• para-vinyl catechol-ortho-methyl ether
• p-vinyl guaiacol
• vinylguaiacol
• para-vinyl guaiacol

Remarks

Yeasts and mould which produce 4-vinyl guaiacol (4-VG) possess the phenyl acrylate decarboxylase (PAD) gene. The enzyme associated with this gene produces 4-VG from ferulic acid. It is also responsible for production of a plastic like flavour from styrene from coumaric acid, and a kerosine-like flavour from 1,3-pentadiene from the preservative sorbic acid.

Threshold distribution

Capsules per pot

10

Legal notices

This product is protected by the following trade marks and patents:

• US Patent no. D679900
• European Community Trade Mark
  Registration no. 009937574
• European Community Trade Mark
  Registration no. 009856527
• US Trade Mark Registration no. 4345057
• US Trade Mark Registration no. 4345056