2-Methoxypyrazine aromaticity

The edible portion of broccoli Brassica oleracea var. italica) is the inflorescence, and it is normally eaten cooked, with the main meal. Over 40 volatile compounds have been identified from raw or cooked broccoli. The most influential aroma compounds found in broccoli are sulfides, isothiocyanates, aliphatic aldehydes, alcohols and aromatic compounds [35, 166-169]. Broccoli is mainly characterised by sulfurous aroma compounds, which are formed from gluco-sinolates and amino acid precursors (Sects. 7.2.2, 7.2.3) [170-173]. The strong off-odours produced by broccoli have mainly been associated with volatile sulfur compounds, such as methanethiol, hydrogen sulfide, dimethyl disulfide and trimethyl disulfide [169,171, 174, 175]. Other volatile compounds that also have been reported as important to broccoli aroma and odour are dimethyl sulfide, hexanal, (Z)-3-hexen-l-ol, nonanal, ethanol, methyl thiocyanate, butyl isothiocyanate, 2-methylbutyl isothiocyanate and 3-isopropyl-2-methoxypyrazine... 

Parsley (Petroselinum crispum) is a member of the Apiaceae family. The fresh leaves of parsley and the dried herb are widely used as flavouring. More than 80 compounds have been identified in the volatile fraction, and the aromatic volatiles of parsley are mainly monoterpenes and the aromatics myristicin and api-ole. It is suggested that the characteristic odour of parsley is due to the presence ofp-mentha-l,3,8-triene, myrcene, 3-sec-butyl-2-methoxypyrazine, myristicin, linalool, (Z)-6-decenal and (Z)-3-hexenal [227, 228]. Furthermore, /3-phellan-drene, 4-isopropenyl-l-methylbenzene and terpinolene contribute significantly... 

Pyrazine A-oxides have continued to attract much attention in recent years, perhaps because the presence of an A-oxide entity can substantially modify the properties of the whole system, especially in respect of activities at other positions on the ring. For example, the aromaticity index for 2-methoxypyrazine is decreased by 23% on formation of its 4-oxide 383 and formation of an A-oxide activates adjacent positions toward direct bromination,782deuteration,1457 and other electrophilic attack.1078... 

Chang et al. [73] and Nawar et al. [74] have identified many of the volatiles formed during deep fat frying. They have found numerous acids, alcohols, aldehydes, hydrocarbons, ketones, lactones, esters, aromatics, and a few miscellaneous compounds (e.g., pentylfuran and 1,4-dioxane) as products of deep fat frying. More recently, Wagner and Grosch [75] have studied the key contributors to French fry aroma. The list of key aroma compounds in French fries includes 2-ethyl-3,5-dimethylpyrazine, 3-ethyl-2,5-dimethylpyrazine, 2,3-diethyl-5-methylpyrazine, 3-isobutyl-2-methoxypyrazine, (E,Z), (E,E)-2,4-decadienal, trans-4,5-epoxy-(E)-2-decenal, 4-hydroxy-2,5-dimethyl-3(2H)-furanone, methylpropanal, 2- and 3-methylbutanal, and methanethiol. If one examines this list, it is obvious that the Maillard reaction (pyrazines, branched chain aldeydes, furanones, and methional), and lipid oxidation (nnsaturated aldehydes) are the primary sources of this characteristic aroma. 

The aroma of carrots root Daucus carota, Apiaceae) is very complex. It consists of various aldehydes, ketones, mono- and sesquiterpenic hydrocarbons and other compounds. The important hydrocarbons are myrcene, sabinene, terpinolene, P-caryophyUene, y-bisabolene and a-pinene, which are present in the largest quantities. The significant carbonyl compounds are acetaldehyde and (2 ,6Z)-nona-2,6-dienal. One of the typical aromatic substances determining the basic odour of carrots is 2-sec-butyl-3-methoxypyrazine. During the cooking of carrots, the contents of methanal, ethanal, propanal, octanal, (Z)-dec-2-enal and some sulfur compounds, such as dimethylsulfide and ethanethiol, increase. At the same time, the contents of monoterpenes and P-caryophyUene decrease. 

Significant aliphatic sulfur compounds are methional, 3-methyl-but-2-ene-1-thiol, 3-mercapto-3-methylbutan-l-ol (8-124), its ester 3-mercapto-3-methylbutyl formate, methanethiol and dimethyltrisulfide. 3-Mercapto-3-methyl-l-ol also occurs in passion fruit and blackcurrant, and as a putative cat pheromone in cat urine, where it is formed as a degradation product of amino acid L-felinine (see Section 2.2.1.2.2). Of more than 70 known pyrazines, the most important compounds in roasted coffee are isopropylpyrazine, 2-isobutyl-3-methoxypyrazine, 2-ethyl-3,5-dimethylpyrazine, 2,3-diethyl-5-methylpyrazine, 2,6-dimethyl-3-vinylpyrazine and 2-ethyl-6-methyl-3-vinylpyrazine. Pyridine and its alkyl derivatives and bicyclic pyridines have a negative impact on the quality of coffee aroma. Important aromatic... 

Potato flavor is greatly influenced by methods of cooking or preparation. Raw potato contains the characteristic earthy aroma component, 2-ixo-propyl-3-methoxypyrazine. A character impact compound common to boiled and baked potatoes is methional (3-[methylthio]propanal). Baked potatoes contain Maillard products such as 2-ethyl-3-methylpyrazine (earthy, nutty) and 2-ethyl-6-vinylpyr-azine (buttery, baked potato) (34). In potato chips and French-fried potatoes, the potato flavor character of methional is modified by volatile aromatics from frying oils, such as ( , )-2,4-decadienal, and thermally generated alkyl oxazoles possessing lactone-like flavors (34,39). The pyrazines 2-ethyl-3,5-dimethyl and 2,3-diethyl-5-methylpyrazine are described as potato chip like (40). 

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