2,3,5,6-Tetramethyl Pyrazine draws a fair bit of attention. You get a crystalline, solid compound, often white to light yellow in appearance. Walk into a well-stocked chemical store or a flavor manufacturing facility, this is among those compounds that crop up on shelves stacked with raw materials, tricky sounding but easy enough to spot once you know what you're looking for. While some call it by other names, its molecular formula is C8H12N2. Each molecule packs four methyl groups circling a pyrazine ring, no fancy substitutions, just a compact, fragrant, and potent structure. People spot it labeled with the HS Code 2933990090, used for customs declaration.
This compound brings certain things to the table that scientists and manufacturers pay close attention to. Look at its melting point – you’ll find it at about 144-146°C, which puts it in a pretty stable category as far as shelf life goes. One whiff and there’s a distinctive, nutty aroma, the kind you might connect with roasted foods and specialty flavors – that’s no coincidence as this pyrazine often enhances flavors in sauces and snacks. The appearance ranges from flaky solid to crystalline powder, offering flexibility depending on how you plan to use it – solid for handling, powder for blending, crystal for extended storage. The density of 2,3,5,6-Tetramethyl Pyrazine sticks around 1.09 g/cm³ at room temperature, which means it isn’t floating off your bench but sits firm and manageable. Spill a bit, and you’ll see it doesn’t dissolve in water quite as much as sugar or salt, but jump into ethanol or ethyl ether, and it mixes up evenly, letting it work in liquid solutions for different industry needs.
The pyrazine ring at the core of this molecule tells most of the story. Whip out a ball-and-stick model, and you'd see four methyl groups attached symmetrically at the 2, 3, 5, and 6 positions. This placement bumps up its stability and also tweaks its reactivity, making it less susceptible to break down in the presence of light or mild heat. The structure lends it that classic dry, earthy scent chemists and food makers chase down for its flavoring potential. Chemical stability sits above average among pyrazines, so you don’t worry much about rapid degradation if stored away from nasty oxidizing agents or strong acids and bases. Its structure allows it to function both as a raw material for synthesis and as a finished product in end-user applications.
Folks working in chemistry or food science circles know the significance of physical form. With 2,3,5,6-Tetramethyl Pyrazine, availability spans flakes, powder, pearl, and crystalline solid. Flakes and crystalline pieces offer easy weighing and packing. Powder form flows smoothly when mixing into bulk recipes or chemical reactions. Pearl form—a sort of small bead—offers process engineers a format that resists dust and spills, better for large-batch or automated dosing. While less common, liquid solutions prepared with alcohol carriers unlock more applications, especially where even mixing matters, like flavoring syrups or complex chemical reactions.
In every batch of roasted coffee, baked bread, or caramelized nuts, some part of the flavor or aroma owes itself to the magic of 2,3,5,6-Tetramethyl Pyrazine. Food technologists chase after it for those deep, toasty notes in finished goods. In synthesis, it pops up as a raw material for pharmaceuticals, aroma chemicals, and more specialized organic compounds. Its chemical stability means it can ride out transport across continents with little loss of quality, which matters a lot for factories in remote locations relying on imported organics. As a solid, it fits right into dosing machines and small-batch production alike, giving manufacturers versatility.
Safety professionals and anyone handling chemicals by hand won’t overlook the hazard labels on a drum or jar. 2,3,5,6-Tetramethyl Pyrazine is not highly volatile or acutely toxic, but no one should breathe in its dust or leave it on bare skin. Even though it isn’t classified as a major threat, standard rules apply – gloves, eye protection, and working in a ventilated space. The compound resists burning and decomposition under most ordinary working conditions, though high temperatures or open flames are out of the question. Storing it away from acids, moisture, and direct sunlight keeps the drums fresh for years. Cleanup for minor spills involves sweeping up and washing down with lots of water; nothing fancy, just tried-and-tested lab protocols.
Across the world, manufacturers value pyrazines for their consistency. 2,3,5,6-Tetramethyl Pyrazine plays a role in everything from synthetic intermediates for pharmaceuticals to advanced research reagents in academic chemistry departments. Most folks outside of laboratories taste it long before seeing it raw – sprinkle some into sauces or baked goods and it transforms flavor complexity. It even shows up in perfumery in small doses for that extra punch. As a raw material, the predictability of its melting point, density, and behavior with solvents ensures process engineers have few surprises on the production line. This sense of reliability – coupled with regulatory-approved HS Codes and transportation grades – makes bulk trade routine, with paperwork as straightforward as handling table salt, at least on the safety scale.
On a spec sheet, you’ll find the critical details: purity ticking above 98%, moisture content low, density, melting point, and batch variation held tight. Whether storing a 25-kilogram drum or a smaller laboratory bottle, the same storage rules hold true—keep it sealed from the air and away from chemical bullies like oxidizers. Scoop out what you need, close it up tight, and keep your workbench swept. Shelf life isn’t a source of worry, but labeling and date tracking guarantee no one’s working with an expired sample. As powders, flakes, or pearls, the compound packs compact and resists caking with proper handling, easing the job for logistics teams moving tons of product between continents or across industrial parks.
