Molecule of the Month: 2,3-Pentanedione
By: Michael Zviely
Posted: June 12, 2009, from the July 2009 issue of P&F magazine.
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2,3-Pentanedione (acetyl propionyl) is a yellow liquid that exists in diketonic form. However, in some GC conditions, 2,3-pentanedione can appear in its enol form, i.e. 3-hydroxypent-3-en-2-one, up to a small percentage (see F-1). 2,3-Pentanedione occurs in butter, bread, milk, yogurt, chicken, meat, cocoa, coffee, potato chips, roasted almonds, pecans, beer, red and white wine, rum and whiskey. The organoleptic profile can be described as creamy, penetrating, cheesy, oily, sweet, buttery, almondlike, brown roasted, and somewhat caramellic, with a fruity nuance.
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