Ethyl guaiacol

Volatile phenols 4-ethylphe-nol, 4-vinylphenol, 4-ethyl-guaiacol, 4-vinylguaiacol Strong X X Strong X... 

As early as 1964 it was recognized that 4-ethyl phenol and 4-ethyl guaiacol were produced by yeast and bacteria during fermentation by the decarboxylation of the hydroxyciimamic acids p-coumaric and fendic acid (88). Later it was reported that among yeast only Brettanomyces species possess the metabolic ability to enzymatically decarboxylate hydroxycinnamic acids to produce ethyl derivatives (29, 89). Heresztyn was the first to identify 4-ethyl phenol and 4t-ethyl guaiacol as the major volatile phenolic compounds formed by Brettanomyces yeast (84). ... 

Isovaleric acid (3-methyl butanoic acid) was found to be the dominant odorant in the "high Brett" wine as detected by CharmAnalysis. The odor described by the GCO sniffer was rancid the chemical identity of the odorant was confirmed by GC-MS. This acid is produced in wine by yeast as a metabolic byproduct of protein (99). Volatile phenolic compounds, such as 4-ethyl guaiacol, guaiacol, and 4-ethyl phenol, were also among the dominate odor active compounds in this wine however, the individual contribution by each of the three phenolics was half or less than the odor activity of isovaleric acid. 

Brett flavor in wine The question still remains what is "Brett" flavor Results from our initial work indicates that "Brett" aroma in wine is a complex mixture of odor-active compounds, including acids, alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, esters, and phenolics. Analysis by gas chromatography-olfactometry revealed two predominate odor-active compounds responsible for the Brett flavor in the wines studied isovaleric acid and a second unknown compound other identified odor-active compounds included 2-phenyl ethanol, isoamyl alcohol, cis-2-nonenal, trans-2-nonenal, B-damascenone, ethyl decanoate, guaiacol, 4-ethyl guaiacol, 4-ethyl phenol. Our findings are a snapshot into the much larger picture know as Brett flavor. Ultimately this preliminary investigation requires the descriptive analyses of many more wines to know what odor active compounds describe the flavor know as "Brett". 

Ethyl guaiacol smoky, burnt, phenolic, spicy, clove, medicinal. 

Biochemically, 4-ethyl guaiacol and 4-ethyl phenol originate from ferufic acid and /vcoumaric acid, respectively. The reaction is a two-step process with an initial decarboxylation of the hydroxycinnamic acids catalyzed by cinnamate decarboxylase and the reduction of the vinyl phenol intermediates by vinyl phenol reductase (Fig. 11.1). Although the specific coenzyme involved remains unknown, one possible metabolic benefit of the second reaction to Brettanomyces could be reoxidation of NADH. Under low oxygen conditions such as those found in wines, the availability of NAD can be limited so that carbohydrate metabolism is inhibited (Section 1.5.1). Reduction of the vinyl phenols to the ethyl phenols would allow the cell to increase the availability of NAD and thus maintain metabolic functions. 

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