Furaneol, or strawberry furanone, is an organic compound used in the flavor, perfume and cosmetics industry. It is formally a derivative of furan. It is a white or colorless solid that is soluble in water and organic solvents.
Although possessed of a caramel-like odor at high concentrations, it exhibits a sweet strawberry aroma when dilute. It is found in strawberries and a variety of other fruits and it is partly responsible for the smell of fresh pineapple. It is also an important component of the odours of buckwheat, and tomato. Furaneol accumulation during ripening has been observed in strawberries and can reach a high concentration of 37 üg/g.
The acetate ester of furaneol, also known as caramel acetate and strawberry acetate, is also popular with flavorists to achieve a fatty toffee taste and it is used in traces in perfumery to add a sweet gourmand note.
Furaneol has two enantiomers, (R)-(+)-furaneol and (S)-(âÂÂ)-furaneol. The (R)-form is mainly responsible for the smell.
It is one of several products from the dehydration of glucose. Its immediate biosynthetic precursor is the glucoside, derived from dehydration of sucrose.