Dihydrochalcone sweeteners. A study of the atypical temporal phenomena

Abstract

Neohesperidin dihydrochalcone (NHDNC), known since 1963 as an intensely sweet compound, is determined to be 340 .+-. 60 (P < 0.05) times more potent than sucrose. The unusual temporal properties of this material are hypothesized as being due to the effects of metabolism, conformation, chelation or hydrophobicity. Forty-four analogues are synthesized to test the 4 hypotheses, none of which are strongly supported. A method of quantitation of temporal characteristics of tastant molecules is developed so as to allow comparison of taste appearance time (AT) and extinction time (ET) of experimental compounds. Four of the new compounds exhibit high sweetness potencies, ranging from 280-440 times sucrose and may be useful in selected food systems. The temporal taste characteristics remain unimproved over NHDHC.