Method and composition for mentholation of cigarettes

Abstract

The present invention relates to smoking articles such as cigarettes, and in particular to a method and composition for mentholation of cigarettes. The tobacco rod of the cigarette contains a compound that decomposes upon exposure to elevated temperatures to yield menthol.

1 . A smoking article, the smoking article comprising: 
 a smokable material; and    a compound selected from the group consisting of oxalic acid mono(-)menthyl ester, a salt of oxalic acid mono(-)menthyl ester, and mixtures thereof.    
   
   
       2 . The smoking article of  claim 1 , wherein the compound is deposited on the smokable material.  
   
   
       3 . The smoking article of  claim 1 , wherein the salt is a metal salt.  
   
   
       4 . The smoking article of  claim 3 , wherein the metal salt is an alkali metal salt.  
   
   
       5 . The smoking article of  claim 4 , wherein the alkali metal salt is a sodium salt.  
   
   
       6 . The smoking article of  claim 4 , wherein the alkali metal salt is a potassium salt.  
   
   
       7 . The smoking article of  claim 3 , wherein the metal salt is an alkaline earth metal salt.  
   
   
       8 . The smoking article of  claim 7 , wherein the alkaline earth metal salt is a calcium salt.  
   
   
       9 . The smoking article of  claim 7 , wherein the alkaline earth metal salt is a magnesium salt.  
   
   
       10 . The smoking article of  claim 1 , comprising a cigarette.  
   
   
       11 . The smoking article of  claim 1 , further comprising a filter.  
   
   
       12 . The smoking article of  claim 11 , wherein the filter further comprises an activated charcoal or an activated carbon.  
   
   
       13 . The smoking article of  claim 11 , wherein the filter is a cavity filter.  
   
   
       14 . The smoking article of  claim 13 , wherein the cavity filter is at least about 95 vol. % filled.  
   
   
       15 . The smoking article of  claim 13 , wherein the cavity filter is about 100 vol. % filled.  
   
   
       16 . The smoking article of  claim 1 , wherein the smokable material comprises a tobacco.  
   
   
       17 . The smoking article of  claim 16 , wherein the tobacco has a reduced nicotine content or a negligible nicotine content.  
   
   
       18 . The smoking article of  claim 16 , wherein the tobacco has a reduced content of a nitrosamine or a negligible content of a nitrosamine.  
   
   
       19 . A method of mentholating a cigarette, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a cigarette comprising a tobacco charge and a compound selected from the group consisting of oxalic acid mono(-)menthyl ester, a salt of oxalic acid mono(-)menthyl ester, and mixtures thereof, wherein the compound is deposited on the tobacco charge; and    combusting the tobacco charge, whereby heat generated by combustion of the tobacco charge pyrolyzes the compound, thereby yielding menthol as a pyrolysis compound.