Pyrazine Maillard reactions

The results obtained with this procedure are similar to those previously reported in the literature by Hangartner, Hagenguth et al and Zeman et al (4, 2, 5, 6). The major exception, being the complete lack of alkylated pyrazines and alkylated thiophenes. These odour-intensive compounds arise from the thermal decomposition of proteins and sulphur containing amino acids. They also develop in the thermally induced reaction of proteins with carbohydrates (Maillard reaction). The authors indicated above have demonstrated that these compounds are invariably produced during the thermal treatment of sludge, a process which is not used in this Authority. 

Electron-spin resonance (e.s.r.) spectra with characteristic hyperfine structure have been recorded during the initial stages of the Maillard reaction between various sugar and amino compounds. The products responsible for the spectra appear to be IV, Af -disubstituted pyrazine radical cations. The pyrazine derivatives are assumed to be formed by the bimolecular condensation of two- and three-carbon enaminol compo-... 

Namiki and Hayashi (46) recently summarized their theory of formation of intermediate free radicals, N, N -disubstituted pyrazine cation radicals, in an early stage of the Maillard reaction (cf. 47). 

Figure 4. N,N -Disubstituted pyrazine cation radicals with assignments for hyperfine structures of the ESR spectra in the Maillard reaction mixtures.

As described above, the free radical products are considered as N,N -disubstituted pyrazine cation radical products. However, formation of such pyrazine derivatives in the Maillard reaction is unknown, and little work has been done on the synthesis of N.N -diethylpyrazinium salt (8), the one—electron oxidation product of the N, N -diethylpyrazine cation radical. The... 

Formation of novel free radical products at an early stage of the Maillard reaction was demonstrated by use of ESR spectrometry. Analyses of the hyperfine structures for various sugar-amino compound systems led to the conclusion that the radical products are N,N -disubstituted pyrazine cation radicals. These new pyrazine derivatives are assumed to be formed by bimolecular condensation of a two-carbon enaminol compound involving the amino reactant residue. The presence of such a two-carbon product in an early stage reaction mixture of sugar with amine was demonstrated by isolation and identification of glyoxal dialkylimine by use of TLC, GLC, NMR, MS and IR. 

Many desirable meat flavor volatiles are synthesized by heating water-soluble precursors such as amino acids and carbohydrates. These latter constituents interact to form intermediates which are converted to meat flavor compounds by oxidation, decarboxylation, condensation and cyclization. 0-, N-, and S-heterocyclics including furans, furanones, pyrazines, thiophenes, thiazoles, thiazolines and cyclic polysulfides contribute significantly to the overall desirable aroma impression of meat. The Maillard reaction, including formation of Strecker aldehydes, hydrogen sulfide and ammonia, is important in the mechanism of formation of these compounds. 

Several mechanisms have been reported for pyrazine formation by Maillard reactions (21,52,53). The carbon skeletons of pyrazines come from a-dicarbonyl (Strecker) compounds which can react with ammonia to produce ot-amino ketones as described by Flament, et al. (54) which condense by dehydration and oxidize to pyrazines (Figure 6), or the dicarbonyl compounds can initiate Strecker degradation of amino acids to form ot-amino ketones which are hydrolyzed to carbonyl amines, condensed and are oxidized to substituted... 

Figure 6. Interaction of Maillard reaction products to form pyrazines (54).

The imidazole part of the IQ-compounds suggests creatinine as a common precursor. The remaining parts of the IQ-compounds could arise from Maillard reaction products, e.g., 2-methylpyri-dine or 2,5-dimethylpyrazine. These two compounds could be formed through Strecker degradation. In Maillard reactions, this is induced by a-dicarbonyl compounds derived from carbohydrates, which are thereby converted to pyrroles, pyridines, pyrazines, etc. (8). 

The reaction pathways for the Maillard Reactions have been studied and reviewed by many researchers since Dr. Maillard s early work (4—6) These papers give a concise outline of the major chemical pathways identified in the Maillard Reaction Mechanism. In heat treated meat with nearly 75% of those volatiles generated are pyrazines derivatives (7). Those pyrazines have been found to play an important role in developing a roasted flavor in heated products. They will be discussed later. 

Lipid-Protein-Carbohydrate Interactions. Evidence for such complex interaction was recently reported by Huang et al (36) who observed that the addition of corn lipids to zein and corn carbohydrates enhanced the formation of alkylpyrazines, indicating that lipid-derived free radicals may accelerate the rate of Maillard reactions. Two of the alkylpyrazines, identified in such mixtures after heating for 30 minutes at 180°C, have 5-carbon alkyl substitution at the pyrazine ring and could only be explained by interaction of lipid or lipid decomposition products. These authors suggested that condensation of amino ketones, formed by protein-carbohydrate interaction, may yield 3,6-dihydropyrazine which would in turn react with pentanal, a lipid oxidation product, to form 2,5-dimethyl-3-pentylpyrazine. 

The Maillard reaction has received much attention since the 1950 s as the source of flavor chemicals in cooked foods. Numerous compounds produced by this reaction have been reported in the last two decades. The major flavor chemicals are nitrogen- and sulfur-containing heterocyclic compounds. For example, nitrogen-containing pyrazines contribute a characteristic roasted or toasted flavor to cooked foods. Sulfur-containing thiophenes and thiazoles give a characteristic cooked meat flavor. A striking property of these compounds is their extremely low odor thresholds. 

Some pyrrole derivatives have pleasant flavor. For example, pyrrole-2-carboxaldehyde gives a sweet and corn-like odor and 2-acetylpyrrole has caramel-like flavor. However, some pyrroles have been found to contribute to off-flavor of food products (24). Pyrroles have not received as much attention as flavor components as other heterocyclic Maillard reaction products such as pyrazines and thiazoles even though the number of derivatives identified is almost the same as that of pyrazines (Figure 1). Proposed formation mechanisms of pyrroles in the Maillard reaction systems are similar to those of thiophenes (Figures 2). 

Pyrazines are the major volatile flavor chemicals produced in Maillard reactions. The discovery of this role of pyrazines was one of the most significant advances in flavor chemistry and two comprehensive reviews of pyrazines have appeared (25, 26). In the 1970 s, pyrazines were well-characterized as the compounds which directly contribute to roasted or smoky flavors. Some pyrazines possess an extremely low odor threshold (25, 29). For example, odor threshold of 2-isobutyl-3-methoxypyrazine in water is 0.002 ppb. 

Even though imidazoles comprise the second largest fraction of the volatile products obtained from Maillard reaction after pyrazines, they do not contribute any characteristic flavors to cooked foods (23). 

The importance of Maillard reaction products to the flavor of foods has received considerable attention. One group of Maillard products, the alkylpyrazines, are thought to contribute roasted, toasted and nutty flavor notes to a variety of foods. Several reviews have detailed the presence of pyrazines in a wide variety of foods (1-7). Considerable work has previously focused on mechanisms of formation and the effects of various parameters on pyrazine formation (8-17). Part one of this study reported on the effects of type of amino acid and type of sugar on the kinetics and distribution pattern of pyrazines formed (18). The current study investigates the effect of pH and water activity on the kinetics of alkylpyrazines formation. 

The identification of 49 pyrazines in heated beef and other meats has been extensively revieved (32, 43). Several mechanisms have been proposed for pyrazine formation by the Maillard reaction. Dlcarbonyl compounds can initiate Strecker degradation of amino acids to yield ot-amino ketones, vhich in turn can undergo condensations and oxidizations to form substituted pyrazines (13). 

The flavor industry has introduced, over the years, methods of developing meat flavors by processing appropriate precursors under carefully controlled reaction conditions. As a result, meat flavors having a remarkably genuine meat character in the beef, chicken and pork tonalities are available for the food industry. It has repeatedly been stated that the Maillard reaction is particularly important for the formation of meat flavors. However, of the 600 volatile compounds isolated from natural beef aroma, only 12% of them find their origin in sugar/amino acid interactions and of these 70% are pyrazine derivatives. 

There is increasing evidence that the interaction of lipids with the Maillard reaction is relevant to the generation of flavor in many cooked foods. For instance, the removal of lipids from coconut has been shown to cause flavor changes in the roast material (12). Uncooked coconut contained significant amounts of lactones as the main aroma components on roasting pyrazines, pyrroles and furans were also found in the aroma volatiles which added a strong nut-like aroma to the sweet aroma of the unroasted coconut. When ground coconut was defatted and then roasted, the sweet aroma due to lactones disappeared and the product possessed a burnt, nut-like aroma. A marked increase in the number and amount of Maillard reaction products, in particular pyrazines, was found. 

Volatile compounds generated by model systems of zeln, corn amylopectin and corn oil extruded at barrel temepratures of 120°C and 165°C were analyzed by GC and GC/MS. The largest quantities of lipid oxidation products were detected in systems containing all three components. In each system, the quantity of 2,4-deca-dienal was low relative to the quantities of hexanal, heptanal and benzaldehyde. Identification of the Maillard reaction products, 2-methyl-3(or 6)-pentyl-pyrazine, 2-methyl-3(or 6)-hexylpyrazine and 2,5-di-methyl-3-pentylpyrazine, suggested that lipid-derived aldehydes might be involved in the formation of substituted pyrazines. 4-Methylthiazole was identified as a major decomposition product of thiamin when corn meal containing 0.5% thiamin was extruded at a final temperature of 180°C. 

Pyrazines are the most widespread Maillard reaction products found in processed foods. The quantity of each pyrazine identified is greater in the samples extruded at 165°C than in those at 120°C. Extrusion conditions have been noted to favor the production of pyrazines at high temperatures (12), but as extrusion temperatures continue to increase, the rate of volatilization may become greater than the rate of production. 

A starch-glycine mixture, heated at 290°C, was significantly different from the starch control in its composition of alkoxyphenols and imidazoles in the involatile phase, and pyrazine, pyridine, methylpyridine, and dimeth-ylpyrroles in the volatile phase (Umano and Shibamoto, 1984). The neurotoxin 4(5)-methylimidazole appeared in the vapor phase when ammonia, but not amino acids, was the nitrogen source (Tomasik et al., 1989b). A corn starch-sucrose combination inhibited the Maillard reaction (Lee and Woo, 1988). 

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