Question

What are the problems in using alitem (alkem) as a sweetening agent?

Answer 1

Alitem was developed in 1980 by Pfizer. Currently it is marketed in a few countries with the name of Aclame. Alitem is a dipeptide (contains two amino acids) sweetener. Alitem is 2000 times more sweeter than sucrose.

Complete step by step answer:
- In the question it is asked what the problems are going to raise if we use Alitem as a sweetening agent.
- Alitem is a dipeptide containing aspartic acid in its structure.
- Generally dipeptides are not sweet in nature but unexpectedly alitem is a sweetening agent.
- Alitem entered into the human body and excreted through urine without changing its structure.
- It is very difficult to control the sweetness of the food if we add alitem as a sweetening agent.
- It is an artificial sweetener.
- Alitem is more stable than aspartame.
- Few countries like Mexico, Australia, and New Zealand use alitem as artificial sweetener.
- The molecular formula of alitem is ${{C}_{14}}{{H}_{25}}{{N}_{3}}{{O}_{4}}S$ with a molecular weight of 331.
- The IUPAC name of alitem is (3S)-3-amino-4-[ [(1R)-1-methyl-2-oxo-2-[(2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-3-thienyl)amino]ethyl]amino]-4-oxobutanoic acid.
- The main problem of using alitem is it has high potency then it is very difficult to control the sweetness of the food once we add it to food.

Note: Aspartame is also an artificial sweetener and it contains phenylalanine amino acid in its structure. But alitem does not contain phenylalanine amino acid in its structure so it can be used by people as an artificial sweetener.