Crystals of non-natural-type stereoisomer salt of monatin and use thereof

Abstract

The present invention provides salt crystals of non-natural stereoisomer forms of monatin and to the use thereof.

1 . An isolated crystalline form of monatin selected from the group consisting of a (2S,4R) monatin substance, a (2R,4R) monatin substance, and a (2R,4S) monatin substance wherein said crystalline form is a salt crystal. 
     
     
         2 . The isolated crystalline form of monatin according to  claim 1 , wherein said crystalline form of monatin is a (2S,4R) monatin substance. 
     
     
         3 . The isolated crystalline form of monatin according to  claim 1 , wherein said crystalline form of monatin is a (2R,4R) monatin substance. 
     
     
         4 . The isolated crystalline form of monatin according to  claim 1 , wherein said crystalline form of monatin is a (2R,4S) monatin substance. 
     
     
         5 . The isolated crystalline form of monatin according to  claim 1 , wherein said salt is selected from the group consisting of ammonium salt, sodium salt, potassium salt, lithium salt, calcium salt and magnesium salt. 
     
     
         6 . The isolated crystalline form of monatin according to  claim 1 , wherein said crystalline form is at a chemical purity of at least 95%. 
     
     
         7 . The isolated crystalline form of monatin according to  claim 1 , wherein said crystalline form is at an optical purity of at least 94%. 
     
     
         8 . A sweetener comprising the isolated crystalline form of monatin according to  claim 1  and a carrier and/or a filler. 
     
     
         9 . The sweetener according to  claim 8 , further comprising at least compound selected from the group consisting of a saccharide, an artificial sweetener, and a natural sweetener. 
     
     
         10 . A beverage or food comprising the isolated crystalline form of monatin according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         11 . The beverage or food according to  claim 10 , further comprising at least compound selected from the group consisting of a saccharide, an artificial sweetener, and a natural sweetener. 
     
     
         12 . A method of making a sweetened food or beverage, comprising mixing the isolated crystalline form of monatin according to  claim 1  with a food or beverage. 
     
     
         13 . An isolated mixed crystal comprising at least two isomers, in a salt form, selected from the group consisting of a (2S,4R) monatin substance, a (2R,4R) monatin substance, a (2R,4S) monatin substance, and a (2S,4S) monatin substance. 
     
     
         14 . The isolated mixed crystal according to  claim 13 , wherein one of the isomers is a salt of a (2S,4S) monatin substance. 
     
     
         15 . The isolated mixed crystal according to  claim 14 , wherein the crystals contain not more than 70% of the salt of the (2S,4S) monatin substance to the total monatin salts. 
     
     
         16 . The isolated mixed crystal according to  claim 14 , wherein the mixed crystal contains the salt of the (2S,4S) monatin substance and the salt of the (2R,4R) monatin substance. 
     
     
         17 . The isolated mixed crystal according to  claim 16 , wherein the ratio of the salt of the (2S,4S) monatin substance to the salt of the (2R,4R) monatin substance is 1:1. 
     
     
         18 . A sweetener comprising the isolated mixed crystal according to  claim 13  and a carrier and/or a filler. 
     
     
         19 . The sweetener according to  claim 18 , further comprising at least compound selected from the group consisting of a saccharide, an artificial sweetener, and a natural sweetener. 
     
     
         20 . A beverage or food comprising the isolated mixed crystal according to  claim 13 . 
     
     
         21 . The beverage or food according to  claim 20 , further comprising at least compound selected from the group consisting of a saccharide, an artificial sweetener, and a natural sweetener. 
     
     
         22 . A method of making a sweetened food or beverage, comprising mixing the isolated mixed crystal according to  claim 13  with a food or beverage. 
     
     
         23 . A composition comprising at least one crystalline form of monatin selected from the group consisting of a (2S,4R) monatin substance, a (2R,4R) monatin substance, and a (2R,4S) monatin substance. 
     
     
         24 . The composition according to  claim 23 , wherein said composition comprises at least two crystalline forms of monatin. 
     
     
         25 . The composition according to  claim 23 , further comprising a salt of a (2S,4S) monatin substance. 
     
     
         26 . The composition according to  claim 25 , wherein the composition contains not more than 70% of the salt of the (2S,4S) monatin substance to the total monatin salts. 
     
     
         27 . The composition according to  claim 25 , wherein the monatin salts in said composition are in a state of mixed crystals of the salt of the (2S,4S) monatin substance and the salt of the (2R,4R) monatin substance. 
     
     
         28 . The composition according to  claim 27 , wherein the ratio of the salt of the (2S,4S) monatin substance to the salt of the (2R,4R) monatin substance is 1:1. 
     
     
         29 . A sweetener comprising the composition according to  claim 23  and a carrier and/or a filler. 
     
     
         30 . The sweetener according to  claim 29 , further comprising at least compound selected from the group consisting of a saccharide, an artificial sweetener, and a natural sweetener. 
     
     
         31 . A beverage or food comprising the composition according to  claim 23 . 
     
     
         32 . The beverage or food according to  claim 31 , further comprising at least compound selected from the group consisting of a saccharide, an artificial sweetener, and a natural sweetener. 
     
     
         33 . A method of making a sweetened food or beverage, comprising mixing the composition according to  claim 23  with a food or beverage.