Glucin is the name of an artificial sweetening agent similar to saccharin that was used in the early 20th century. [1] The substance is a sodium salt derived from coal tar. It is composed of a mixture of mono- and di- sulfonic acids with a chemical formula of C19H16N4. [2] It typically appears as a light brown powder, easily soluble in water. It is insoluble in ether and chloroform. Glucin is about three hundred times sweeter than cane sugar. [2]
The use of glucin as a food additive is prohibited in much of the United States due to concerns about its health effects.