| Chemical Properties |
white to creamy white powder |
| Chemical Properties |
Sucrose octaacetate occurs as white hygroscopic powder. It is practically odorless with a bitter taste. |
| Chemical Properties |
Sucrose octaacetate is odorless with an intensly bitter flavor influenced by food acids |
| Uses |
Octa-O-acetyl D-(+)-Surcose was used in studies involving human bitter taste receptor hTAS2R46. |
| Uses |
Adhesive; impregnating and insulating papers; in lacquers and plastics; as a denaturant for alcohol. |
| Production Methods |
Sucrose octaacetate is typically produced by chemical synthesis; one reported synthetic method is by pyridine-catalyzed acetylation of sucrose. |
| Preparation |
May be prepared by heating sucrose, acetamide and sodium acetate; or by acetylation of sucrose using acetic anhydride, zinc chloride and acetic acid. |
| Pharmaceutical Applications |
Sucrose octaacetate is used as an alcohol denaturant in pharmaceutical formulations. It is also used as a bittering agent, and is incorporated into preparations intended to deter nail-biting or thumb-sucking. |
| Safety Profile |
Slightly toxic by ingestion andskin contact. A skin irritant. When heated todecomposition it emits acrid smoke and irritating vapors. |
| Safety |
Sucrose octaacetate is generally regarded as safe. It is considered slightly hazardous in cases of skin contact (irritant), ingestion, or inhalation.
LD50 (rabbit, skin): >5 g/kg
LD50 (rat, oral): >5 g/kg |
| storage |
Sucrose octaacetate is a stable material and should be stored in a well-closed, airtight container. Store in a cool, dry place; moisture may cause instability. |
| Purification Methods |
After three recrystallisations from EtOH or 95% EtOH (charcoal), the m of the octaacetate rises to 88-90o, or Et2O with m 89o and [] D +58.5o (c 2.6, EtOH). It has a bitter taste. [Linstead et al. J Am Chem Soc 62 3260 1940, Lemieux & Huber J Am Chem Soc 78 4117 1956, Beilstein 17/8 V 410.] |
| Regulatory Status |
GRAS listed. Approved by the FDA as both a direct and an indirect food additive, and as a nail-biting deterrent for over-the-counter drug products. |
