High potency dipeptide sweeteners. 1. L-aspartyl-D-phenylglycine esters

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/jm00165a027

Twenty esters of L-aspartyl-D-phenylglycine, as well as two substituted analogues, an o-fluoro and a p-hydroxyphenylglycine ester, were prepared. The L-aspartyl-D-phenylglycine (-)-α- and (+)-β-fenchyl esters had the highest sweetness potency at 1200 and 3700 times that of sucrose, respectively. The high potency of these sweeteners is surprising as the phenyl group occupies a position previously believed to accommodate only much smaller groups.