Authorization for use of  3-Methyl -2-butenal , 3-Methyl -2-butenol , 1-Penten -3-ol, and 
Pyrazine  as food a dditives   
 
Purpose  and background  
This activity is to newly designate 3- Methyl -2-butenal , 3-Methyl -2-butenol, 
1-Penten -3-ol, and Pyrazine  as authorized food additives.  
Under Article 10 of the Food Sanitation Law, food additives may  be used  or marketed  
only when they are authorized  by the Minister of Health , Labour  and Welfare.  Where 
standards  for use of additives  and/or their compositional specifications ar e established  
based on Article 11 of the law, those additives may  be used or marketed only when they 
meet the  standards and/or specifications.   
 
In response to a request from the Minister, the Subcommittee on Food Additives under 
the Food Sanitation Commit tee which is established under the Pharmaceutical Affairs 
and Food Sanitation Council has discussed the adequacy of  designation of the four  
substances, i.e. 3- Methyl -2-butenal , 3-Methyl -2-butenol, 1- Penten -3-ol, and Pyrazine , as 
food additives . Conclusion of the subcommittee is outlined  below.  
 
 
Outline of conclusion  
The Minister should designate  3-Methyl -2-butenal , 3-Methyl -2-butenol , 1-Penten-3- ol, 
and Pyrazine , based on  Article 10 of the Food Sanitation Law , as food additives unlikely 
to harm human health , and establish compositional specifications and other necessary 
standards for the se substances , based on Article 11 of the law (see  Attachments 1, 2, 3 
and 4 ).  Attachment 1  
 
3-Methyl -2-butenal  
 
 
Standard for use  
It shall not be used for purposes other than flavoring.  
 
Compositional specifications  
Substance name:   3-Methyl -2-butenal   
Structural formula:  
H3CCH3
CHO
 
Molecular formula:   C 5H8O 
Mol. Weight:   84.12  
Chemical name  [CAS number]:   3-Methyl -2-butenal  [107-86-8]  
Content :  3-Methyl -2-butenal contains not less than 97.0% of 3 -Methyl -2-butenal 
(C5H8O).  
Description:   3-Methyl -2-butenal occurs as a colorless, transparent liquid having a 
characteristic odor.    
Identification:  Determine the infrared absorption spectrum of  3-Methyl -2-butenal , as 
directed in the Liquid Film Me thod under Infrared Spectrophotometry, and compare it 
with the Reference Spectrum.  Both spectra  exhibit absorption s having about the same 
intensity at the same wavenumbers . 
Purity:    
(1) Refractive index   n20
D: 1.458– 1.464.  
(2) Specific gravity   d25
25: 0.870– 0.875.  
(3) Acid value   Not more than 5.0 (Flavoring Substances Tests).  
Assay:   Proceed as directed in the Peak Area Percentage Method in the Gas 
Ch
romatogr aphic Assay under the Flavor Substance Tests. Use operating conditions (2). 
Use a silicate glass capillary column (0.25 –0.53 mm in internal diameter and 30– 60 m 
in length), coated with a 0.25 –1 μm  thick layer of polyethylene glycol.  Reference Spectrum  
 
3-Methyl -2-butenal  
 Attachment 2  
 
3-Methyl -2-butenol  
 
 
Standard for use  
It shall not be used for purposes other than flavoring.  
 
Compositional specifications  
Substance name:  3-Methyl -2-buteno l 
Structural formula:  
H3C OH
CH3  
Molecular formula:   C 5H10O 
Mol. Weight:   86.13  
Chemical name  [CAS number]:   3-Methyl -2-butenol [556 -82-1] 
Content:  3-Methyl -2-butenol contains not less than 98.5% of 3 -Methyl -2-butenol 
(C5H10O). 
Description:   3-Methyl -2-butenol occurs as a colorless, transparent liquid having a 
characteristic odor.  
Identification:   Determine the infrared absorption spectrum of  3-Methyl -2-butenol , as 
directed in the Liquid Film Me thod under Infrared Spectrophotometry,  and compare it 
with the Reference Spectrum.  Both spectra  exhibit absorption s having about the same 
intensity at the same wavenumbers . 
Purity:    
(1) Refractive index   n20
D: 1.438– 1.448.  
(2) Specific gravity   d25
25: 0.855– 0.863.  
(3) Acid value   Not more than 1.0 (Flavoring Substances Tests).  
Assay:   Proceed as directed in the Peak Area Percentage Method in the Gas 
Ch
romatographic Assay under the Flavor Substance Tests. Use operating conditions (2). 
Use a silicat e glass capillary column (0.25 –0.53 mm in internal diameter and 30– 60 m 
in length), coated with a 0.25 –1 μm  thick layer of polyethylene glycol.  Reference Spectrum  
 
3-Methyl -2-butenol 
 Attachment 3 
 
1-Penten -3-ol 
 
 
Standard for use  
It shall not be used  for purposes other than flavoring.  
 
Compositional specifications  
 
Substance name:   1-Penten -3-ol  
Structural formula:  
H3COH
CH2 
Molecular formula :  C 5H10O  
Mol. Weight :  86.13  
Chemical name  [CAS number ]:  1-Penten -3-ol [616-25-1] 
Content :  1-Penten -3-ol contains not less than 98.0% of 1- Penten -3-ol (C 5H10O). 
Description :  1- Penten -3-ol occurs as a colorless, transparent liquid having a 
characteristic odor.    
Identification :  D etermine the infrared absorption spectrum of 1- Penten -3-ol, as 
directed in the Liquid Film Me thod under Infrared Spectrophotometry, and compare it 
with the Reference Spectrum.  Both spectra  exhibit absorption s having about the same 
intensity at the same wavenumbers . 
Purity :   
(1) Refractive index   n20
D: 1.419– 1.427. 
(2) Specific gravity   d25
25: 0.834– 0.840. 
Assay :  Proceed as directed in the Peak Area Percentage Method in the Gas 
Chromatographic Assay under the Flavor Substance Tests. Use operating conditions ( 2). Reference Spectrum  
 
1-Penten -3-ol 
 Attachment 4  
 
Pyrazine  
 
 
Standard for use  
It shall not be used for purposes other than flavoring.  
 
Compositional specifications  
Substance name:   Pyrazine    
Structural formula:  
NN
 
Mole cular formula :  C 4H4N2 
Mol. Weight :  80.09  
Chemical name  [CAS number ]:  Pyrazine  [290-37-9]  
Content :  Pyrazine  contains not less tha n 98.0% of Pyrazine  (C4H4N2).  
Description :  Pyrazine  occurs as white to light yellow  lumps , having a characteristic  
odor.  
Identification :  Hold a powdered sample of Pyrazine between two optical plates, warm 
to melt, and cool. D etermine the infrared absorption spectrum of  Pyrazine , as directed 
in the Liquid Film Me thod under Infrared Spectrophotometry, and compare it with the 
Reference Spectrum.  Both spectra  exhibit absorption s having about the same intensity 
at the same wavenumbers . 
Purity :   
Melting point   51- 55℃. 
Assay :  Dissolve 0.1 g of Pyrazine in 1 ml of ethanol. Proceed as directed in the Peak 
Area Percentage Method in the Gas Chromatographic Assay under the Flavor 
Substance Tests. Use operating conditions (2).  
 Reference Spectrum  
 
Pyrazine