What is Butyl 10-undecenoate?
Butyl 10-undecenoate is an ester compound derived from butylic alcohol and 10-undecenoic acid (also called undecylenic acid). The CAS number 109-42-2 uniquely identifies this chemical substance. It belongs to the class of organic esters, which are compounds formed through the reaction of an alcohol and a carboxylic acid. Chemically, the undecylenic acid component contains an unsaturated carbon chain with a double bond, which contributes to the compound's flavor profile and volatility characteristics.
Common Uses
Butyl 10-undecenoate is primarily used in the flavor industry as a flavoring agent and flavor enhancer. In food manufacturing, it can contribute fruity, waxy, or herbaceous notes to finished products. Like many synthetic flavor compounds, it may appear in formulations for baked goods, beverages, confectionery, and other processed foods where flavor complexity is desired. However, its use in food is restricted in many jurisdictions due to its non-GRAS status in the United States and limited regulatory approvals in other regions.
The compound's chemical structure allows it to provide distinctive sensory characteristics that may enhance or modify the overall flavor profile of food products. It is one of thousands of synthetic flavoring compounds available to the food industry, though far fewer are formally approved for use.
Safety Assessment
According to FDA records, there are zero adverse events reported and zero product recalls associated with butyl 10-undecenoate. This absence of reported incidents, however, should be understood within the context of its limited and restricted use in food applications.
The compound has not been evaluated and approved by the FDA under the GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) determination process, which means it cannot be legally used in food products intended for the U.S. market without specific food additive approval. GRAS status requires either a history of safe use in food before 1958 or substantial scientific evidence demonstrating safety for the intended use.
Limited publicly available toxicological data exists for this specific compound. Safety evaluations would typically consider acute toxicity, chronic toxicity, mutagenicity, and reproductive effects. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) maintains databases of approved flavoring compounds, though approvals vary by jurisdiction and region.
Regulatory Status
In the United States, butyl 10-undecenoate is NOT listed as a GRAS substance, which represents a significant regulatory constraint. This means manufacturers cannot use it in food products marketed in the U.S. without obtaining specific food additive approval from the FDA through the formal petition process—a costly and time-consuming pathway rarely pursued for individual flavor compounds.
Regulatory status varies internationally. Some countries or regional bodies (such as those in the European Union) may have different approval statuses. Manufacturers seeking to use this compound in food would need to verify current regulations in their target markets, as flavoring regulations are continuously updated based on emerging safety data.
The lack of GRAS status reflects either insufficient historical use documentation or incomplete safety substantiation according to current FDA standards rather than evidence of harm.
Key Studies
Published peer-reviewed research specifically on butyl 10-undecenoate is limited in the public domain. Most safety information for such compounds comes from manufacturer submissions to regulatory agencies and proprietary toxicological testing reports that may not be publicly accessible.
General safety information on structurally similar ester flavor compounds and undecylenic acid derivatives suggests these compounds are typically volatile and metabolized through standard hepatic and renal pathways. However, compound-specific studies would be necessary to establish definitive safety parameters for butyl 10-undecenoate.
Researchers and regulators evaluating flavoring compounds typically consider data from in vitro studies, animal studies, and existing human consumption data when available. The absence of reported adverse events and recalls in FDA databases may indicate either strong safety or simply minimal historical use in regulated food products.