It is a white crystalline, non-hygroscopic powder that decomposes at temperatures over 225 °C.
Acesulfame-K is available through Hoechst Ltd, under the brand name of Sunett or Sunette.
In 1967 the Hoechst researcher Karl ClauB was conducting a research program aimed at the evaluation of substance which had found only limited interest until then.
When he reacted butyne and fluorosulfonyl isocyanate, he found that the taste originating from his finger, which was not caused by any known sweet substance. The generic name initially chosen, acetosulfam, was change to acesulfame potassium salt, shortened to acesulfame-K.
The sweetness onset of acesulfame K is rapid, without unpleasant delay. It decreases slowly without unacceptable lingering taste, persisting longer than sucrose.
Acesulfame K
