Thiopropanal lachrymatory factor

The most important flavour compound in raw onions is thiopropanal-S-ox-ide, the lachrymatory factor [145,146]. Other important flavour compounds are 3,4-dimethyl-2,5-dioxo-2,5-dihydrothiophene and alkyl alkane thiosulfonates such as propyl methanethiosulfonate and propyl propanethiosulfonate with a distinct odour of freshly cut onions [35, 36, 147]. Various thiosulfinates that have a sharp and pungent odour may also contribute to the flavour of onions. These compounds, however, are rapidly decomposed to a mixture of alkyl and alkenyl monosulfides, disulfides and trisulfides (Scheme 7.3) of which dipropyl disulfide, methyl ( )-propenyl disulfide, propyl ( )-propenyl disulfide, dipropyl trisulfide and methyl propyl trisulfide are the most important contributors to the aroma of raw and cooked onions (Table 7.5, Fig. 7.6) [148-150]. Recently, 3-mercapto-2-methylpentan-l-ol was identified in raw and cooked onions eliciting intense meat broth, sweaty, onion and leek-like odours [142, 151]. 

Shallots Allium ascalonicum) are an allium wherein the bulb laterals separate into individual bulbs. Apparently, shallots do not develop a lachrymatory factor, such as thiopropanal-S-oxide upon maceration [35]. The major aroma constituents in shallots are similar to those found in A.cepa. In raw shallots, the most important aroma compounds appear to be dipropyl disulfide, propyl ( )-prope-nyl disulfide, methyl propyl trisulfide, dimethyl trisulfide and dipropyl trisulfide (Table 7.5, Fig. 7.6) [35, 152, 153]. 

When onion is cut or cmshed, ( )-5 -l-propenyl-L-cysteine sulfoxide (isoalliin) is converted into ( )-l-propene-l-sulfenic acid. Different from garlic, (Z)-thiopropanal S-oxide, a lachrymatory factor, is formed from the sulfenic acid by lachrymatory factor synthase (Figure 18.6). The remaining ( )-l-propene-l-sulfenic acid and methyl sulfenic acid produced from 5 -methyl-L-eysteine sulfoxide ean form methyl 1-pro-pene-thiosulfinate and 1-propenyl methane thiosulfinate that are further converted to sulfides such as 1-propenyl methyl disulfide and 1-prope-nyl methyl trisulfide. 

The lachrymatory factor in onion (thiopropanal-S-oxide) is considered to come from the S-l-propenyl-cysteine sulfoxide precursor [40]. Thiopropanal-S-oxide (CH3-CH2-CH=S=0) is unstable reacting with pyruvate to form propanol, 2-methyl pentanal and 2-methyl pent-2-enal [41]. It is of interest that no lachrymatory properties were found in 25 species of wild onions [42]. This would suggest that the 1-propenyl precursor may be absent from the wild onion. 

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