# US 5,348,750 A · Enhanced flavors using menthone ketals

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- Number: US 5,348,750 A
- Document ID: US5348750A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/037,724
- Filed: 1993-03-26
- Granted: 1994-09-20
- Earliest claimed: 1990-11-06
- Assignees: Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company
- Inventors: Michael J. Greenberg
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5348750A

## CPC

- A23G 4/06: characterised by the composition {containing organic or inorganic compounds}
- A23L 27/203: {Alicyclic compounds}
- A23L 27/2052: {having oxygen or sulfur as the only hetero atoms}
- A61K 8/33: containing oxygen
- A61K 8/498: {having 6-membered rings or their condensed derivatives, e.g. coumarin}
- A61Q 11/00: Preparations for care of the teeth, of the oral cavity or of dentures; Dentifrices, e.g. toothpastes; Mouth rinses
- A23G: COCOA; COCOA PRODUCTS, e.g. CHOCOLATE; SUBSTITUTES FOR COCOA OR COCOA PRODUCTS; CONFECTIONERY; CHEWING GUM; ICE-CREAM; PREPARATION THEREOF
- A23L: FOODS, FOODSTUFFS OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; PREPARATION OR TREATMENT THEREOF (preservation thereof A23B)
- A61K: PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES (devices or methods specially adapted for bringing pharmaceutical products into particular physical or administering forms A61J3/00; chemical aspects of, or use of materials for deodorisation of air, for disinfection or sterilisation, or for bandages, dressings, absorbent pads or surgical articles A61L; soap compositions C11D)
- A61Q: SPECIFIC USE OF COSMETICS OR SIMILAR TOILETRY PREPARATIONS

## Abstract

A method is disclosed for enhancing flavors in low moisture consumable items, including chewing gum, using menthone ketals. Chewing gum, oral compositions, pharmaceuticals, and low moisture foods containing menthone ketals are provided.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of preparing a chewing gum having enhanced flavor, comprising the following steps:
providing gum ingredients, comprising gum base, softener, and sweetener ingredients,
providing flavor ingredients comprising a menthone ketal, that is free of attachment to a polymer, and
mixing the flavor ingredients with the gum ingredients so that the flavor ingredients comprise about 0.25% to about 5% by weight of the gum and the menthone ketal comprises about 0.1% to about 50.0% by weight of the flavor ingredients, said menthone ketal providing enhanced flavor in said gum.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the flavor ingredients comprise menthone ketal at a level of about 0.1% to about 50% by weight of the flavor ingredients.

### Claim 3

A method of preparing a chewing gum, comprising the following steps:
providing gum ingredients, comprising gum base, softener, and sweetener ingredients,
providing flavor ingredients comprising a menthone ketal that is free of attachment to a polymer, and
mixing the flavor ingredients with the gum ingredients so that the flavor ingredients comprise about 0.25% to about 5% by weight of the gum and the menthone ketal comprises about 0.1% to about 50.0% by weight of the flavor ingredients, said menthone ketal providing a cooling taste to said gum.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1, 3)

The method of claim 1 or 3, wherein said menthone ketal is a compound of the formula: ##STR4## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are alkyl groups.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1, 3)

The method of claim 1 or 3, wherein said menthone ketal is a compound of the formula: ##STR5## wherein R.sub.3 is a member of the group consisting of a hydroxy, lower alkoxy, and lower alkyl, and n is an integer of 0 or 1.

### Claim 6

A chewing gum composition comprising gum base, softener, sweetener, and flavor ingredients, said flavor ingredients comprising about 0.1% to about 50.0% by weight menthone ketal that is free of attachment to a polymer, wherein said menthone ketal provides enhanced flavor in said gum.

### Claim 7

A chewing gum composition comprising gum base, softener, sweetener, and flavor ingredients, said flavor ingredients comprising about 0.1% to about 50.0% by weight menthone ketal that is free of attachment to a polymer, wherein said menthone ketal provides a cooling taste to said gum.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6, 7)

The chewing gum composition of claim 6 or 7, wherein said menthone ketal is a compound of the formula: ##STR6## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are alkyl groups.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6, 7)

The chewing gum composition of claim 6 or 7, wherein said menthone ketal is a compound of the formula: ##STR7## wherein R.sub.3 is a member of the group consisting of a hydroxy, lower alkoxy, and lower alkyl, and n is an integer of 0 or 1.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The chewing gum composition of claim 9, wherein R.sub.3 is 5'-hydroxy and n is 1.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The chewing gum composition of claim 9, wherein R.sub.3 is a member of the group consisting of methoxy or methyl, and n is 0.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The chewing gum composition of claim 11, wherein R.sub.3 is 5'-methoxy.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The chewing gum composition of claim 11, wherein R.sub.3 is 4'-methoxy.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The chewing gum composition of claim 11, wherein R.sub.3 is 4'-methyl.

### Claim 15 (depends on 11)

The chewing gum composition of claim 11, wherein R.sub.3 is 5'-methyl.

### Claim 16 (depends on 6)

The chewing gum composition of claim 6, wherein the flavor ingredients comprise about 0.25% to about 5% of the chewing gum composition.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The chewing gum composition of claim 16, wherein menthone ketal is present at a level of about 0.1% to about 50% by weight of the flavor ingredients.