Reference

Some benzyl ethers present in the extract of vanilla (Vanilla planifolia)

Some benzyl ethers present in the extract of vanilla (Vanilla planifolia). Galetto, William G.; Hoffman, Patrick G. (Res. Dev. Lab., McCormick and Co., Inc., Hunt Valley, Md., USA). J. Agric. Food Chem., 26(1), 195-7 (English) 1978. CODEN: JAFCAU. DOCUMENT TYPE: Journal CA Section: 17 (Foods) A flavorful conc. was prepd. by the continuous pentane extn. of a com. Bourbon vanilla ext. Combined gas-chromatog.-mass spectrometry led to the identification of 4 benzyl ethers: vanillyl Et ether [13184-86-6], vanillyl Me ether [5533-03-9], p-hydroxybenzyl Et ether [57726-26-8], and p-hydroxybenzyl Me ether [5355-17-9]. The Me ethers were present in trace quantities, with the Et ethers being major components. However, a direct gas-chromatog. examn. of several com. vanilla exts. that had not been extd. with pentane showed that p-hydroxybenzyl Me ether is normally the major ether with lesser quantities of vanillyl Me ether and vanillyl Et ether. No p-hydroxybenzyl Et ether was detected in the com. exts. that had not been subjected to liq.-liq. extn. with pentane. The ethers contribute to the overall character of vanilla but do not have the flavor strength and impact of vanillin and are present in much lesser amts.