4,5-dihydro-3(2h)thiophenone

4,5-dihydro-3(2h)thiophenone is an organic chemical compound belonging to the class of thiophenones—sulfur-containing heterocyclic compounds. Its CAS number is 1003-04-9. The compound contains a five-membered aromatic ring with one sulfur atom and is partially saturated, making it a dihydro derivative. As a flavor compound, it contributes sulfurous or savory aromatic notes to food and beverage products.

This flavoring agent is used in the food industry to impart savory, meaty, or sulfurous flavor notes to various products. It falls within a broader category of sulfur-containing flavor compounds used in processed foods, seasonings, soups, sauces, and meat-flavored products. Like many synthetic flavoring agents, its specific use is limited to applications where these distinctive aromatic characteristics are desired. The compound's actual presence in the consumer food supply appears limited, as it lacks FDA GRAS status, which restricts its use in the United States without specific regulatory approval.

According to FDA records, there are zero reported adverse events associated with 4,5-dihydro-3(2h)thiophenone, and no food recalls have been linked to this ingredient. These metrics indicate that if the compound has been used in food products, it has not generated safety complaints or identified hazards serious enough to trigger FDA action or market recalls.

However, the absence of adverse event reports does not necessarily indicate extensive human safety testing. The compound's lack of GRAS status suggests that the FDA has not received a GRAS notification demonstrating that it meets the criteria for general recognition of safety. GRAS status requires either a history of safe use in food prior to 1958, or comprehensive safety data demonstrating safety at intended use levels. The absence of GRAS approval indicates this compound does not clearly meet either criterion in the FDA's assessment.

Limited peer-reviewed safety literature appears publicly available for this specific compound in food applications. Toxicological data on 4,5-dihydro-3(2h)thiophenone may exist in regulatory files or proprietary databases but is not widely published in accessible scientific literature.

In the United States, 4,5-dihydro-3(2h)thiophenone is not listed as GRAS by the FDA. This restricts its use in foods intended for the U.S. market, as food additives must either have GRAS status, prior approval as a food additive, or a pending petition. The compound's regulatory status in other jurisdictions such as the European Union, where EFSA maintains its own approval systems, may differ, though specific EU regulatory decisions on this compound are not widely documented in public sources.

The lack of GRAS status combined with zero reported adverse events and recalls suggests this ingredient either has minimal use in commercial food products, or its use is limited to jurisdictions or applications where pre-market approval is not required or where different regulatory frameworks apply.

Publicly available peer-reviewed studies specifically addressing 4,5-dihydro-3(2h)thiophenone in food applications are limited. Most safety and toxicological information about this compound would be contained in regulatory submissions or proprietary industry data not readily accessible through public scientific databases. The development of flavor compounds often relies on structure-activity relationship assessments based on similar compounds, but specific human or animal studies on this particular thiophenone derivative do not appear to be widely published.