title: 3-Hydroxy-4,5-dimethyl-2(5H)-furanone (Sotolon) causing an off-flavor: elucidation of its formation pathways during storage of citrus soft drinks.
abstract: Gas chromatography/olfactometry (GCO) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HRGC-MS) revealed 3-hydroxy-4, 5-dimethyl-2(5H)-furanone (sotolon) to be responsible for the "burnt" and "spicy" off-flavor observed in citrus soft drinks during storage. Among the ingredients of citrus soft drinks, ethanol and ascorbic acid were identified as the essential precursors of sotolon. Two formation pathways were postulated by studies using (2)H (D)- and (13)C-labeled ethanol and ascorbic acid; i.e., sotolon is formed from two molecules of ethanol and carbons 2 and 3 of ascorbic acid (pathway 1), or it is generated from one molecule of ethanol and carbons 3-6 of ascorbic acid (pathway 2).
authors.affiliation: Lehrstuhl für Lebensmittelchemie, Universität Würzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: König
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gutsche
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hartl
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hübscher
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schreier
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Schwab
mesh_terms: D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D001628:Beverages / Q000032:analysis*; D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D002957:Citrus; D003903:Deuterium; D000431:Ethanol / Q000737:chemistry; D005519:Food Preservation; D005663:Furans / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D015394:Molecular Structure; D013649:Taste
chemical_list: D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D005663:Furans; C054511:4,5-dimethyl-3-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanone; D000431:Ethanol; D003903:Deuterium; D001205:Ascorbic Acid