This section provides an overview of 4-methylthiazole, covering its manufacturing processes and regulatory status, applications in food, flavour, and fragrance, pharmaceutical, and agricultural chemical industries. Also, please check out the introduction to 4-methylthiazole manufacturers, supply chain issues, 4-methylthiazole suppliers, and 4-methylthiazole prices. Sinofi can help you buy 4-methylthiazole at bulk wholesale prices based on FEMA 3716 and CAS 693-95-8.
Table of Contents
What is 4-Methylthiazole?
4-Methylthiazole is an important heterocyclic flavouring compound that plays a significant role in food, flavour and fragrance, pharmaceutical, and agricultural chemical industries. This sulfur and nitrogen-containing molecule belongs to the thiazole family and occurs naturally in various cooked and roasted foods. 4-Methylthiazole consists of a five-membered aromatic ring containing both sulfur and nitrogen atoms, with a methyl group attached at the fourth position. The compound possesses a relatively low odor threshold, meaning that even minute quantities can contribute significantly to the overall aroma profile of a product. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), 4-methylthiazole is approved to be used in the food, flavour, and fragrance industries.
Regulatory Status and Safety
4-Methylthiazole is approved for use as a flavouring substance in many jurisdictions, like JECFA, EFSA, ECHACHEM, NIST, and WHO. In the United States, it is recognized by the Flavor and Extract Manufacturers Association (FEMA) and has FEMA GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) status. The compound also appears on the European Union’s list of approved flavouring substances. As with all flavouring materials, usage levels must comply with good manufacturing practices and should not exceed levels necessary to achieve the desired technical effect. Formulators should always verify current regulatory status in their specific markets and maintain proper documentation for compliance purposes. The fragrance standard of 4-methylthiazole has been set by organizations such as IFRA.
Sensory Profile and Organoleptic Characteristics
The flavour profile of 4-methylthiazole is distinctive and multifaceted. It delivers nutty, roasted, and earthy notes with subtle green and vegetable-like undertones. The compound is particularly valued for its ability to impart characteristic roasted aromas reminiscent of coffee, cocoa, and toasted nuts. Some formulation experts also describe hints of meaty or savory characteristics, which makes this compound useful in both sweet and savory applications. The intensity and character of 4-methylthiazole can vary depending on concentration, with lower levels contributing subtle background complexity while higher concentrations deliver more pronounced roasted notes. This concentration-dependent character allows formulators to fine-tune the impact of the compound based on the desired finished product profile.
CAS No.: 693-95-8
According to the American Chemical Society, the CAS number of 4-methylthiazole is 693-95-8.
CAS Name: 4-Methylthiazole
Molecular Formula: C4H5NS
Molecular Mass: 99.16
Appearance: Colorless to light yellow, clear liquid.
JECFA Number: 1043
Boiling Point: 133.00 to 134.00 °C. @ 760.00 mm Hg
Solubility: Soluble in fats, most organic solvents; Slightly soluble in water.
Other Names:
♦ 4-Methyl-1,3-thiazole
♦ Thiazole, 4-methyl-
♦ 4-Methyl thiazole
♦ 4-Methyl-Thiazole
4-Methylthiazole Odor
Odor Description: At 0.1% in dipropylene glycol, nutty, green odour.
FEMA Number 3716
According to the Flavour and Extract Manufacturers Association (FEMA), the FEMA number of 4-methylthiazole is 3716.
Bulk 4-Methylthiazole Manufacturers
The production of bulk 4-methylthiazole is concentrated among specialized fine chemical manufacturers rather than large commodity chemical producers. Top 4-methylthiazole manufacturers like Givaudan and Ernesto Ventos maintain dedicated synthesis capabilities and produce 4-methylthiazole through established chemical routes, often alongside related thiazole derivatives. These companies generally operate at scales ranging from several tonnes to hundreds of tonnes annually, depending on market demand and their broader product portfolios. This concentration reflects the technical expertise required for thiazole synthesis, the relatively smaller market volumes compared to commodity chemicals, and the stringent quality standards demanded by end-use applications in food, beverage, and pharmaceutical industries.
Sinofi is a bulk 4-methylthiazole manufacturer in China, and we have a manufacturing facility with 2,500 square meters for the production of 4-methylthiazole and downstream application development across food, flavour and fragrance, pharmaceutical, and agricultural chemical industries. We supply high-quality 4-methylthiazole at bulk prices and serve flavour houses, fragrance manufacturers, and pharmaceutical intermediates producers in the world.
Manufacturing Process of 4-Methylthiazole
The industrial production of 4-methylthiazole can be accomplished through several distinct synthetic pathways, each offering particular advantages and challenges in terms of yield, selectivity, raw material availability, and economic viability. The most widely employed industrial route involves the Hantzsch thiazole synthesis, a classical method for constructing thiazole rings that remains highly relevant in modern manufacturing. This approach utilizes an α-haloketone and a thioamide as key building blocks. For 4-methylthiazole specifically, the reaction combines chloroacetone or bromoacetone with thioacetamide under controlled conditions. The mechanism proceeds through nucleophilic attack of the thioamide sulfur on the α-carbon of the haloketone, followed by cyclization and elimination of water to form the aromatic thiazole ring with the methyl substituent positioned at the 4-position.
Bulk 4-Methylthiazole Suppliers
The supplier landscape for bulk 4-methylthiazole reflects the specialized requirements and limited scale that characterize niche segments within the fine chemicals industry. Top 4-methylthiazole suppliers like Givaudan and Ernesto Ventos maintain production facilities, quality control laboratories, and regulatory compliance infrastructure necessary to serve demanding applications in food, flavour, fragrance, and pharmaceutical sectors.
Sinofi is a bulk 4-methylthiazole supplier in China, and we have a warehouse with 1,200 square meters for high-quality 4-methylthiazole. We sell different grades of 4-methylthiazole at wholesale prices to food factories, flavour houses, fragrance manufacturers, and pharmaceutical intermediates producers.
Supply Chain of 4-Methylthiazole
The supply chain for 4-methylthiazole exemplifies the complexity inherent in specialty chemical distribution networks serving technically demanding applications under rigorous regulatory oversight. This heterocyclic compound, essential to flavour formulation and various industrial applications, moves through a multi-tiered distribution system characterized by technical complexity, stringent quality requirements, and sophisticated logistics.
Supply Chain Architecture
The supply chain begins with raw material suppliers who provide the essential chemical building blocks for 4-methylthiazole synthesis. These upstream suppliers furnish chloroacetone or bromoacetone and thioacetamide, the primary reactants required for the dominant synthetic pathway employed in commercial production.
4-Methylthiazole manufacturers occupy the second tier, converting raw materials into finished products through synthesis, purification, and quality control operations. These manufacturers range from large integrated chemical companies producing multiple heterocyclic compounds to specialized fine chemical producers focusing specifically on thiazole derivatives and related flavour intermediates.
The distribution tier comprises traders, importers, and specialty chemical distributors who source material from manufacturers and provide interface services to end users. Distributors perform essential functions, including inventory management, repackaging from bulk containers into smaller units suitable for various customer requirements, regulatory documentation management, and localized customer service.
Flavour houses and fragrance companies represent the primary downstream customers in the supply chain. These organizations purchase 4-methylthiazole as a raw material for incorporation into complex flavour and fragrance compositions, subsequently sold to food and beverage manufacturers, personal care companies, and other consumer goods producers.
Wholesale and Buy 4-Methylthiazole in Bulk
Wholesale procurement of 4-methylthiazole in bulk quantities offers significant opportunities for cost savings, supply security, and operational efficiency when executed strategically. Success requires systematic supplier evaluation that prioritizes quality capabilities and regulatory compliance alongside commercial considerations, effective negotiation that addresses the full range of contractual terms influencing total value, and ongoing performance management that maintains visibility into supplier capabilities and relationship health.
Supplier Identification and Initial Screening
It is very important to identify qualified suppliers capable of providing food-grade 4-methylthiazole in bulk quantities. Direct manufacturers typically offer the most competitive pricing for bulk orders and can provide the greatest transparency regarding production processes, quality control systems, and raw material sourcing. However, manufacturers often impose higher minimum order quantities than distributors and may offer less flexibility regarding packaging configurations or delivery schedules. Specialty chemical distributors serving the flavour industry provide valuable intermediary services, including domestic inventory, smaller packaging options, consolidated shipping with other materials, and simplified procurement processes. These suppliers maintain relationships with qualified manufacturers and perform their own quality verification, adding a layer of assurance beyond manufacturer testing.
Quality and Regulatory Compliance Verification
Quality assurance represents the paramount concern when establishing bulk 4-methylthiazole supply relationships, given the compound’s role in food applications where quality failures can trigger costly production disruptions, product recalls, or regulatory actions. Purchasing managers must verify that prospective suppliers maintain robust quality systems capable of delivering consistent material meeting stringent specifications batch after batch. A comprehensive quality audit examines multiple dimensions of supplier capability. The supplier’s analytical testing infrastructure should include gas chromatography equipment with appropriate sensitivity and resolution to quantify 4-methylthiazole purity and profile trace impurities.
As a bulk 4-methylthiazole manufacturer and supplier in China, we wholesale 4-methylthiazole to food factories, flavour houses, fragrance manufacturers, and pharmaceutical intermediates producers. We also supply 4-methyl thiazole to small customers. Normally, they want to buy 4-methylthiazole in small quantities. To serve them, we can sell 4-methylthiazole at bulk prices and provide a one-stop purchasing service.
4-Methylthiazole Prices (USD/Kg)
Food Grade 4-Methylthiazole Prices (GC Content >=99.0%)
| Volume | Unit Price | Shipment |
| 50g | 32 USD | Express |
| 500g | 161 USD | Express |
| 1Kg | 230 USD/Kg | Express |
| 20Kg | >20% cheaper | Express |
| 100Kg-Above | negotiable | Express / Sea |
The 4-methylthiazole pricing demonstrates substantial variation depending on quality grade, order volume, supplier positioning, and geographic market. Food-grade material meeting stringent specifications for flavour applications commands pricing that typically ranges from 200 to 350 dollars per kilogram for moderate volumes.
Key Price Drivers and Cost Components
Understanding the factors that drive 4-methylthiazole pricing requires examination of the underlying cost structure and market dynamics that influence supplier pricing decisions. Raw material costs for the primary synthesis precursors, including chloroacetone or bromoacetone and thioacetamide, represent the largest variable cost component in production economics. These materials themselves are specialty chemicals subject to supply-demand dynamics in their respective markets, with price volatility occasionally affecting 4-methylthiazole production costs.
Furthermore, the above 4-methylthiazole price quotations do not include the express shipping fee. The reason is that the shipment cost may exceed the value of the 4-methyl thiazole sample. However, the bulk wholesale prices of 4-methylthiazole will be much lower than those of small orders. Please contact us for more details.
4-Methylthiazole Specification
| Appearance: | Colorless to light yellow, clear liquid. |
| Odor: | Nutty, green odor. |
| Purity (GC) | >=99% |
| Specific Gravity | 1.088-1.092 |
| Refractive Index | 1.519-1.528 |
| Heavy Metal (as Pb, mg/Kg) | <=10.0 |
4-Methylthiazole Uses
4-Methylthiazole serves as a versatile compound with applications spanning multiple industries, though its predominant role lies within the flavour and fragrance sector.
Application in Flavour and Fragrance Industry
The flavour industry represents the largest and most significant market for 4-methyl thiazole, where the compound functions as a key building block in complex flavour formulations. The fragrance industry utilizes 4-methylthiazole in specific compositions where its unique character provides desired effects. The compound finds limited use in certain masculine fragrances where earthy, roasted, or slightly animalic notes contribute to complex scent profiles. Perfumers working with unconventional or avant-garde compositions occasionally explore thiazole compounds, including 4-methyl thiazole, to create distinctive olfactory effects that differentiate their creations from mainstream products.
Pharmaceutical Industry Applications
Beyond its flavour and fragrance applications, 4-methyl thiazole serves as a chemical intermediate in pharmaceutical synthesis and agricultural chemistry. The compound’s heterocyclic structure makes it a useful building block for constructing more complex molecules required in drug development and agrochemical production. Synthetic chemists utilize the thiazole ring system present in 4-methyl thiazole as a starting point for creating derivatives with biological activity relevant to pharmaceutical targets. Drug discovery programs exploring thiazole-containing compounds may employ 4-methyl thiazole as a synthetic precursor or screening candidate when investigating structure-activity relationships. The thiazole ring appears in numerous marketed pharmaceuticals across diverse therapeutic categories, and molecules related to 4-methylthiazole continue attracting interest from medicinal chemistry researchers seeking new drug candidates. While the compound itself does not represent a finished pharmaceutical product, its role as an intermediate supports drug development activities.
Agricultural Chemical Applications
Agricultural chemistry applications utilize 4-methyl thiazole and related thiazole derivatives in the synthesis of crop protection agents and plant growth regulators. The chemical properties of the thiazole ring contribute useful characteristics to certain agrochemical actives, making thiazole-containing compounds valuable in this sector. The scale of use in agricultural chemistry remains modest compared to flavour applications but represents a steady market for the compound.
4-Methylthiazole Benefits
4-Methylthiazole delivers substantial benefits across its primary applications in flavour formulation, fragrance composition, and specialty chemical synthesis.
Sensory Performance Benefits
The primary benefit of 4-methyl thiazole in flavour applications stems from its exceptional ability to deliver authentic roasted, nutty, and savory characteristics that prove difficult to replicate through alternative approaches. This authenticity represents a significant advantage over synthetic alternatives that may deliver intensity without the nuanced character that defines high-quality flavour systems.
Technical and Formulation Advantages
4-Methylthiazole offers several technical benefits that facilitate its incorporation into diverse product matrices and processing conditions. The compound demonstrates good thermal stability under typical food processing conditions, including pasteurization, retorting, and moderate baking temperatures.
4-Methylthiazole Used in Flavour and Fragrance
4-Methylthiazole represents one of the most valuable tools available to flavour and fragrance formulators seeking to create authentic roasted, nutty, and savory profiles. This sulfur-nitrogen heterocycle delivers distinctive sensory characteristics that prove essential across numerous applications, from coffee and meat flavours to specialty fragrance compositions.
Sensory Profile and Character Assessment
Understanding the complete sensory profile of 4-methyl thiazole provides the foundation for effective formulation work. The compound delivers primarily roasted and nutty notes with earthy undertones that become more apparent at higher concentrations. At dilute levels approaching threshold, the material exhibits subtle vegetable-like or green characteristics that can add interesting complexity when used skillfully. As concentration increases, the roasted character intensifies, and the profile shifts toward more pronounced nutty qualities with hints of toasted grain or bread crust. At still higher levels, the compound can develop slightly sulfurous or meaty aspects that prove useful in savory applications but require careful control to avoid becoming intrusive in sweet or beverage systems.
The odor threshold of 4-methy lthiazole falls in the low parts per billion range in water and air, indicating exceptional potency that demands respect during formulation work. This sensitivity means that formulators must work with precision when incorporating the material, as small errors in weighing or dilution can produce noticeable sensory differences. The low threshold also creates opportunities for subtle background effects where the compound operates below conscious detection levels yet contributes to overall complexity and fullness in the finished profile.
The temporal profile of 4-methyl thiazole shows moderate volatility with reasonable top note presence that evolves into sustained middle notes. The compound does not exhibit pronounced heart or base note character, which means that formulations requiring long-lasting roasted effects may need supporting ingredients that extend these notes through the dry-down phase. In flavour applications, the compound demonstrates good mouthfeel integration without creating isolated flavour bursts or uneven distribution across the taste experience.
Formulation Principles and Blending Strategies
Successful formulation with 4-methyl thiazole begins with appropriate dilution strategies that enable accurate dosing and thorough dispersion. Preparing working solutions at concentrations of one to ten percent in suitable solvents such as propylene glycol, triacetin, or medium-chain triglyceride oils facilitates precise addition to formulations and ensures thorough mixing. The choice of diluent should consider the final application matrix, with oil-soluble carriers preferred for lipid-based systems and more polar solvents appropriate for aqueous applications. Maintaining fresh dilutions and avoiding extended storage of working solutions prevents potential degradation and ensures consistent performance.
The synergistic relationships between 4-methylthiazole and complementary compounds represent critical knowledge for building complex, authentic profiles. Pyrazines constitute the most important synergy partners, with compounds such as 2-methylpyrazine, 2-ethyl-3-methylpyrazine, and 2,5-dimethylpyrazine working harmoniously with 4-methylthiazole to build roasted complexity. The combination of thiazole and pyrazine chemistry recreates the chemical signatures of actual roasting reactions and produces profiles that consumers immediately recognize as authentic. Typical ratios place pyrazines at two to five times the concentration of 4-methylthiazole, though specific applications may warrant different balances depending on the target profile.
Furan compounds, including furfural, 2-acetylfuran, and 5-methylfurfural, provide additional complementary notes that enhance overall roasted character while contributing caramel and sweet undertones. These materials help round out the profile and prevent the lean or one-dimensional character that might result from using thiazoles and pyrazines alone. Aldehydes such as 3-methylbutanal and phenylacetaldehyde contribute supporting roles that build complexity without dominating the composition. Sulfur compounds, including dimethyl trisulfide and methional, can intensify savory aspects in meat applications, though these potent materials require careful control to avoid overwhelming more delicate notes.
Balancing 4-methyl thiazole with sweet and caramel notes proves essential in applications like coffee and chocolate, where roasted characteristics must integrate with complementary flavour dimensions. Maltol, ethyl maltol, and vanillin provide sweetness that softens the roasted impact and creates more rounded profiles. In coffee applications, the addition of mild caramel notes through compounds like furaneol or maple furanone helps recreate the subtle sweetness that consumers associate with quality coffee. The key lies in maintaining sufficient contrast that the roasted notes remain distinct rather than becoming muddled within an overly sweet profile.
Application-Specific Formulation Guidance
Coffee flavour development represents perhaps the most demanding application for 4-methylthiazole, requiring careful balancing to achieve authenticity without creating harsh or burnt characteristics. Effective coffee profiles typically employ 4-methylthiazole at concentrations ranging from two to eight parts per million in the finished beverage or product, with specific levels adjusted based on the coffee style being replicated. Light roast profiles benefit from lower thiazole levels that preserve bright, aromatic qualities, while dark roast profiles can accommodate higher concentrations that deliver more intense roasted impact. The formulator must consider not only the thiazole level but also its ratio to supporting pyrazines, which typically range from five to twenty parts per million depending on roast character.
Meat flavour formulation presents different challenges, where 4-methyl thiazole contributes to the roasted and grilled aspects associated with cooked meat products. Usage levels in meat systems typically range higher than coffee applications, often falling between five and fifteen parts per million in finished products such as soups, sauces, or seasoning blends. The compound works synergistically with sulfur-containing ingredients, including hydrogen sulfide precursors, dimethyl disulfide, and various mercaptans that deliver characteristic meaty notes. Amino acid degradation products such as 2-methylbutanal and 3-methylbutanal derived from leucine and isoleucine contribute supporting roles that enhance overall meat character.
The formulation strategy for meat flavours must consider whether the target profile represents fresh cooked meat, grilled or barbecued meat, or rendered meat products like broth or stock. Grilled applications benefit from higher 4-methylthiazole levels that deliver pronounced roasted character, often accompanied by smoky notes from guaiacol, 4-methylguaiacol, or other phenolic compounds. Freshly cooked meat profiles require more restraint, with roasted notes taking a supporting role behind primary meaty and savory characteristics. The balance between roasted, meaty, fatty, and savory dimensions determines whether the finished flavour achieves authentic character or falls into caricature.
Plant-based meat alternative formulation has emerged as a particularly challenging application where 4-methylthiazole plays a crucial role in bridging sensory gaps between plant proteins and animal meat. These applications demand careful attention to creating savory depth and roasted character that can mask or complement the inherent flavours of soy, pea, or other plant proteins. Usage levels often exceed those in traditional meat flavours, sometimes reaching fifteen to twenty-five parts per million or higher in the finished product. The formulator must work within the constraints of the plant protein matrix, which can bind or release flavour compounds differently than animal proteins and may introduce beany, green, or bitter notes requiring mitigation.
Chocolate and cocoa applications benefit from judicious use of 4-methyl thiazole to reinforce roasted dimensions without creating profiles that read as coffee-like or inappropriately nutty. Typical usage ranges from one to five parts per million, with dark chocolate profiles accommodating higher levels than milk chocolate applications. The compound should support rather than dominate the cocoa character, allowing chocolate’s fruity, floral, and bitter notes to come through while the thiazole adds subtle roasted depth. Combining 4-methylthiazole with cocoa pyrazines such as 2,5-dimethyl-3-ethylpyrazine creates synergies that enhance chocolate authenticity, though care must be taken to avoid excessive roasted character that overshadows chocolate’s inherent complexity.
Nut flavour formulations leverage 4-methyl thiazole to deliver the characteristic roasted quality that defines toasted almonds, hazelnuts, peanuts, and other nuts. Hazelnut applications particularly benefit from this compound, typically using concentrations between three and ten parts per million combined with supporting ingredients like vanillin, acetylpyrazine, and benzaldehyde. The formulator must consider whether the target profile represents raw nuts, lightly toasted nuts, or deeply roasted nuts, adjusting 4-methylthiazole levels accordingly. Fatty notes from gamma-lactones and other compounds help balance the roasted character and prevent profiles from becoming too dry or lean.
Technical Performance and Stability Considerations
The stability of 4-methylthiazole under various processing and storage conditions significantly influences formulation decisions and finished product performance. The compound demonstrates good thermal stability during pasteurization operations typical in beverage and dairy applications, with minimal degradation at temperatures up to eighty-five degrees Celsius for short exposure times. Retort processing at higher temperatures can produce modest losses, though these typically remain within acceptable ranges that can be compensated through slight overflavouring if necessary. Baking applications present more complex scenarios where stability depends on time-temperature profiles and the protective effects of the product matrix.
Oxidative stability requires attention, particularly in applications where the flavour system encounters oxygen exposure during processing or packaging. While 4-methylthiazole itself shows reasonable oxidative stability, the compound can participate in oxidation reactions when present alongside easily oxidized lipids or when exposed to light in combination with photosensitizers. Formulations incorporating antioxidants such as mixed tocopherols or rosemary extract benefit from improved overall stability that protects both 4-methylthiazole and more vulnerable flavour components. Nitrogen flushing or other oxygen exclusion strategies during packaging help preserve sensory characteristics throughout shelf life.
A Vegetarian Beef Flavouring
Include the following ingredients (Total 100g, unit:g):
10% benzaldehyde: 2; 10% n-hexanol: 1; 10% nonanal: 1; 100% gamma-valerolactone: 3; 1% heptanal: 2; 10% phenylethanol: 0.2; 1% angelica root oil: 2; 10% damascenone: 2; 1% β-damascenone: 1; 20% 12-methyltridecanal: 5; 1% 4-methylnonanoic acid: 1.2; 100% oleic acid: 3.5; 1% α-terpineol: 1; 1% 2,4,6-trimethyldihydro-4H-1,3,5-dithiazine: 0.2; 1% Trithioacetone: 1; 10% guaiacol: 1; 0.1% 8-mercaptomentham: 0.2; 10% 2-tridecanone: 1; 1% 4-methylthiazole: 0.5; 10% 2-mercapto-3-butanol: 2.5; and rice oil: the remainder.
The method includes the following steps: Blending the flavouring monomers with rice oil to a specified mass concentration, then adding the ingredients in specified mass percentages, and stirring in a 50°C water bath for 30 minutes.
In conclusion, 4-methylthiazole serves diverse applications across multiple industries, with its dominant role in flavour systems reflecting the compound’s ability to deliver distinctive roasted, nutty, and savory notes essential to authentic food flavours. As a bulk 4-methylthiazole manufacturer and supplier in China, we sell different grades of 4-methylthiazole at wholesale prices to flavour houses, fragrance manufacturers, and pharmaceutical intermediates producers in the world.