DESCRIPTION

Alitame occurs as a white, odorless, crystalline powder having an intensely sweet taste. One method of production is through a multistep synthesis involving the reaction between two intermediates, (S)-[2,5-dioxo-(4-thiazolidine)] acetic acid and (R)-2-amino-N-(2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-3-thietanyl)propanamide. The final product is isolated and purified through crystallization of an alitame/4-methylbenzenesulfonic acid adduct followed by additional purification steps, and finally recrystallization from water as the 2.5 hydrate. It is freely soluble in water and alcohol, and the pH of a 5% solution is between 5.0 and 6.0.