Threshold values thiazoles

Oxazoles have been found in relatively few cooked foods, although over 30 have been reported in coffee and cocoa, and 9 in cooked meat. Oxazolines have been found in cooked meat and roast peanuts, but not to any extent in other foods. 2,4,5-Trimethyl-3-oxazoline has been regularly detected in cooked meat [26], and when it was first identified in boiled beef [27] it was thought that the compound possessed the characteristic meat aroma however, on synthesis it was shown to have a woody, musty, green flavour with a threshold value of 1 mg/kg [28]. Other 3-oxazolines have nutty, sweet or vegetable-like aromas and the oxazoles also appear to be green and vegetable-like [28]. The contribution of these compounds to the overall aroma of heated foods is probably not as important as the closely related thiazoles and thiazolines. 

Most cooked foods contain thiazoles. Simple alkyl-substituted thiazoles generally have odour threshold values in the range 1-1,000 pg/kg. Odour descriptions include green, vegetable-like, cocoa, nutty, and some are claimed to have meaty characteristics [22]. Although most alkylthiazoles result from thermal... 

Yeast extracts represent an important source of volatile sulfur compounds, many of which possess low odor threshold values. They are used as sources of flavor for a range of savory foods, especially when a meaty note is required. In spite of the usefulness of yeast extracts, there are very few reports of their volatile flavor components. The production of yeast extracts is briefly reviewed, and the volatile sulfur compounds which have been identified are discussed. A recent study is presented in which the aroma components of some yeast extracts were analyzed. A total of 268 compounds were identified, including 67 sulfur compounds. The 34 sulfur compounds reported for the first time comprised 3 aliphatic sulfur compounds, one sulfur-substituted benzene derivative, 10 thiophenes, 18 thiazoles and 2 alicyclic sulfur compounds. Their importance as components of flavors and routes to their formation are considered. 

Some of the compounds identified in YEs which are formed either by the thermal degradation of thiamine or on the interaction of thiamine degradation products with other components are shown in Fig. 2. They include aliphatic sulfur compounds, furans, thiophenes and thiazoles. 2-Methyl-3-furanthiol and 2-methyl-3-thiophenethiol have been identified in YEs 9,13 14) and are well known thermal degradation products of thiamine (29). As well as possessing meaty aromas and low odor threshold values 34), these compounds are key precursors of several other sulfur-substituted furans and thiophenes, including the derivatives in Fig. 2. Most possess meaty aromas at low concentrations and several have been identified in YEs (see Tables I and III). 

Thiazoles and thiazolines such as 4—methyl—5—(2-hydroxy ethyl)thiazole, 4-ethyl-5—(3-acetoxypropyl) — thiazole, 2 acetyl—2—thiazoline and 2 acetyl—5—propyl—2— thiazoline are o-f particular note as they have been identified (20-23) and patented -for use in meaty-type flavors. These materials, particularly the 2 and 4 acetyl derivatives are very powerful materials with extremely low odor threshold (22.23) values (eg. 1.3 ppb for the 2—Acetyl compound ). 

This characteristic feature appears to be required for a roasted odor. In fact, aU the pyrroUnes and pyridines listed in Table 5.23 as weU as 2-acetyl-thiazole, 2-acetylthiazoline (cf. Table 5.22) and acetylpyrazine (cf. Table 5.23) contain this structural element and have a roasted or cracker-hke odor. However, the thresholds of these compounds vary greatly. The lowest values were found for 2-acetyl-and 2-propionyl-l-pyrrohne. The length of the alkanoyl group also influences the aroma activity because in the transition from 2-propionyl- to 2-hutanoyl-l-pynoline, the roasted note suddenly disappears and the odor threshold increases hy several powers of ten. 2-Acetyl-l-pyrrohne (Apy) is responsible for the typical aroma of the cmst of white bread and it... 

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