Shallenberger, R.S. and Acree, T.E. 1969.
Molecular structure and sweet taste.
J. Agr. Food Chem 17(4): 701-3.
A structural unit common to sweet-tasting compds. is an AH and a B unit where H is an acidic proton and B is an electroneg. atom or center. The distance between the proton and B is .apprx.3 A. There are a variety of functional groups which satisfy these requirements. In the sugars, this group is the glycol unit, in the gauche conformation, to satisfy the distance requirement. Hence, sugar sweetness varies with either configuration or ring conformation. The probable AH,B units for amino acids and a variety of sweet-tasting org. and inorg. compds. are given. Although there are other chem. features assocd. with the ability of a compd. to elicit sweet taste, the AH,B unit is an essential requirement.