How is Neotame made？

Generally, neotame is produced by the reaction between aspartame and 3,3-dimethylbutyraldehyde under hydrogen pressure. Other raw materials involved in the reactions are methanol (solvent), palladium/carbon (catalyst), and diatomaceous earth (food grade may be used as a filtering aid). (1)

Here is the synthesis reaction:

neotame manufacturing process


Specification
Other names N-(N-(3,3-Dimethylbutyl)-L-alpha-aspartyl)-L-phenylalanine 1-methyl ester
CAS number 165450–17–9
Chemical formula C20H30N2O5
Molecular Weight 378.47
Properties
Appearance
A white, crystalline powder or granular with a clean, sweet taste.

Structure
neotame chemical structure

Its name comes from its molecular structure, a 6-carbon neohexyl group attached to the amine nitrogen of aspartame.

Solubility
Sparingly soluble in water (solubility in water, 12.6g/L at 25℃, aspartame is 10g/L) and very soluble in alcohol.

Stable than aspartame

Heat stable in 100℃, and can be used at high temperatures for cooking and baking while aspartame cannot. This advantage also enables it to be used in the process of pasteurization and high temperature sterilization, but it would be decomposed if exposed for a long time at 120℃.

Sweetness
It is the sweetest among the category of artificial sweeteners. The following are the sweetness comparison among artificial sweeteners:

Table sugar 1 (as the base)
Sodium cyclamate 50
Aspartame 200
Acesulfame k 200
Sodium saccharin 300
Sucralose 600
Neotame 6000
Tastes and aftertaste
Taste like sugar, without a bitter, or metallic aftertaste, making it the optimal sugar replacement to use in food and drink products.