Composition for a tobacco-free chew with liquid synthetic nicotine

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments contained herein relate to smokeless products containing one or more non-tobacco plant materials and methods of manufacture thereof. Exemplary embodiments are related to the method of manufacture of various chew products containing non-tobacco ingredients including plant material and a starch, a sweetener, natural and artificial flavors, a pH adjuster, solvent, salt, and liquid synthetic nicotine and methods of manufacture thereof. The liquid synthetic nicotine is provided at greater volumes compared to when liquid tobacco-derived nicotine is used due to the presence of both R nicotine isomers and S nicotine isomers present in the liquid synthetic nicotine.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A composition comprising:
 a non-tobacco leaf material comprising a combination of spearmint leaves and arrowroot;   a flavorant, wherein the flavorant comprises capsaicin adapted to produce a burning sensation upon contact with a tissue during chewing usage;   liquid synthetic nicotine that is not derived from tobacco, wherein the liquid synthetic nicotine is (R,S)-nicotine that comprises S nicotine isomers and R nicotine isomers and has the following structure:   
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         a ratio of S nicotine isomers to R nicotine isomers in the liquid synthetic nicotine in a range from about 3:1 to about 1:3; 
         the liquid synthetic nicotine having a weight that is in a range from about 0.15% to about 0.5% of the total weight of the composition; 
         a diluent, wherein the diluent is operative to dilute the synthetic nicotine to a lower concentration, while maintaining the weight that is in the range from 0.3% to 0.5% of a total weight of the composition, and wherein a ratio of diluent to liquid synthetic nicotine is about 3:1, wherein an amount of free nicotine in the liquid synthetic nicotine, after being exposed to the diluent and an alkaline pH equals an amount of free nicotine in the liquid synthetic nicotine in an undiluted concentration at a neutral or acidic pH; 
         a pH adjuster comprising at least one of baking soda and an ammonium salt, wherein the pH adjuster maintains the composition at a pH greater than 8.0; and 
         wherein the composition is adapted to be packaged in a pouch or a can and the composition adapted to deliver the liquid synthetic nicotine during chewing usage. 
       
     
     
         2 . A composition comprising:
 a non-tobacco leaf material;   a flavorant; and   liquid synthetic nicotine that is not derived from tobacco, wherein the liquid synthetic nicotine comprises S nicotine isomers and R nicotine isomers;   a ratio of S nicotine isomers to R nicotine isomers in the liquid synthetic nicotine in a range from about 3:1 to about 1:3; and   the liquid synthetic nicotine having a weight that is in a range from about 0.15% to about 0.5% of the total weight of the composition;   wherein the composition is adapted to be packaged in a pouch or a can and the composition adapted to deliver the liquid synthetic nicotine during chewing usage.   
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 2 , wherein the ratio of S nicotine isomers to R nicotine isomers in the liquid synthetic nicotine that is not derived from tobacco is in a range from about 2:1 to about 1:2. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 3 , wherein the flavorant comprises capsaicin adapted to produce a burning sensation upon contact with a tissue during chewing usage. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 2 , wherein the ratio of S nicotine isomers to R nicotine isomers in the liquid synthetic nicotine that is not derived from tobacco is about 1:1. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 2 , further comprising a diluent, wherein the diluent is operative to dilute the synthetic nicotine to a lower concentration, while maintaining the weight that is in the range from 0.3% to 0.5% of a total weight of the composition. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 6 , further comprising a ratio of diluent to liquid synthetic nicotine in a range from about 2:1 to about 4:1. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 7 , wherein the ratio of diluent to liquid synthetic nicotine is about 3:1. 
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 7 , wherein an amount of free nicotine in the liquid synthetic nicotine, after being exposed to the diluent and an alkaline pH approximates a similar amount of free nicotine in an undiluted concentration at a neutral or acidic pH. 
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 7 , further comprising a pH adjuster. 
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 10 , wherein the pH adjuster includes at least one of baking soda and an ammonium salt. 
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 11 , wherein pH adjuster maintains the composition at a pH of about 8.6. 
     
     
         13 . The composition of  claim 10 , wherein the non-tobacco leaf material comprises shredded spearmint leaves and arrowroot. 
     
     
         14 . The composition of  claim 6 , wherein the composition has a pH greater than 8. 
     
     
         15 . The composition of  claim 14 , wherein the composition has a pH of about 8.6. 
     
     
         16 . The composition of  claim 2 , wherein the liquid synthetic nicotine has the following structure: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         and the liquid synthetic nicotine is a product of a process comprising:
 reacting a nicotinate ester with N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidinone in the presence of a base and a solvent to form a first mixture; 
 combining the first mixture with a cold acid solution to form a second mixture comprising an aqueous layer; 
 separating the aqueous layer from the second mixture; 
 combining the separated aqueous layer with an acid to form a third mixture; 
 combining the third mixture with a base to form a fourth mixture comprising myosamine; and 
 reducing the myosamine to nornicotine using a reducing agent; and 
 methylating the nornicotine to yield (R,S)-nicotine.