MOLECULE

2,5-Dimethylpyrazine

2,5-Dimethylpyrazine, also known as FEMA 3272 or 2,5-DMP, belongs to the class of organic compounds known as pyrazines. Pyrazines are compounds containing a pyrazine ring, which is a six-member aromatic heterocycle, that consists of two nitrogen atoms (at positions 1 and 4) and four carbon atoms. 2,5-Dimethylpyrazine is also classified as an alkylpyrazine. Alkylpyrazines are naturally occurring highly aromatic substances which often have a very low odor threshold and contribute to the taste and aroma of various foods including coffee and wines. Alkylpyrazines are also formed during the cooking of some foods via Maillard reactions (doi:10.1093/chemse/10.3.287). 2,5-Dimethylpyrazine has a chocolate, roasted, musty, nutty, grassy aroma and a musty potato, nutty or oil taste. 2,5-Dimethylpyrazine occurs naturally in a wide number of foods including asparagus, black or green tea, crispbread, roast beef, beer, roasted coffee, kohlrabi, pork, potato chips, malt, raw shrimp, soya, squid, Swiss cheeses, wheat bread, mung beans, soft-necked garlics, fenugreeks, mollusks, roasted barley, roasted filberts or pecans, wild rice (Zizania aquatica), and wort. 2,5-Dimethylpyrazine is used as flavor additive and odorant in foods such as cereals and products such as cigarettes. It has also been used to artificially scent and enhance the flavour of potato chips. 2,5-Dimethylpyrazine has also been identified in Cannabis sativa (PMID: 6991645) and Cannabis smoke (https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59259-947-9_2). 2,5-Dimethylpyrazine is volatilized during the combustion of cannabis.