Dulcin is an artificial sweetener about 250 times sweeter than sugar, discovered in 1883 by the Polish chemist Józef (Joseph) Berlinerblau (27 August 1859 – 1935).
Nevertheless, it was an important sweetener of the early 20th century and had an advantage over saccharin in that it did not possess a bitter aftertaste.
Early medical tests marked the substance as safe for human consumption, and it was considered ideal for diabetics.
However, an FDA study in 1951 raised many questions about its safety, resulting in its removal from the market in 1954 after animal testing revealed chronic toxicity.
[8] Dulcin can be produced by the addition of potassium cyanate to p-phenetidine hydrochloride in an aqueous solution at room temperature.