The desirable wine aroma compounds 3-sulfanylhexan-1-ol (3SH) and 3-sulfanylhexyl acetate (3SHA) are released during fermentation from non-volatile precursors present in the grapes. This work explores the relative contribution of four precursors (E-2-hexenal, 3-S-glutathionylhexan-1-ol, 3-S-glutathionylhexanal, and 3-S-cysteinylhexan-1-ol) to 3SH and 3SHA. Through the use of isotopically labelled analogues of these precursors in defined fermentation media, new insights into the role of each precursor have been identified.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFImprovements to the quantification of three white wine impact odorants 3-sulfanylhexan-1-ol, 3-sulfanylhexyl acetate, and 4-sulfanyl-4-methylpentan-2-one, and the non-volatile precursors from which they are released during fermentation, is of great interest to the wine science community. Recent reports of a "Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged and Safe" (QuEChERS) based method for the concurrent analysis of these thiols and their precursors via liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) has enabled the development of far simpler methods, as well as aligning these analyses with principles of green analytical chemistry. This current work reports the development and validation of a QuEChERS based LC-MS/MS method utilising a safer derivatising agent, 4,4'-dithiodipyridine, while greatly minimising the reagents involved and waste produced.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF3-Gluthathionylhexanal (glut3SHal) is an early precursor to the important wine aroma compound 3-sulfanylhexan-1-ol (3SH), imparting tropical passion fruit aromas, even at trace concentrations. In wine, glut3SHal occurs in equilibrium with its bisulfite adduct (glut3SH-SO), challenging its quantification. To circumvent the issues encountered when attempting to describe the equilibrium between these compounds, a method for their quantification in wine samples was developed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFVolatile polyfunctional thiol compounds, particularly 3-sulfanylhexan-1-ol (3SH) and 3-sulfanylhexyl acetate (3SHA), are key odorants contributing to the aroma profile of many wine styles, generally imparting tropical grapefruit and passionfruit aromas. 3SH and 3SHA are present in negligible concentrations in the grape berry, juice, and must, suggesting that they are released from non-volatile precursors present in the grape. The exploration of the nature and biogenesis of these precursors to 3SH and 3SHA has proven important for the elucidation of polyfunctional thiol biogenesis during alcoholic fermentation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe volatile thiol compound 3-sulfanylhexan-1-ol (3SH) is a key impact odorant of white wines such as Sauvignon Blanc. 3SH is produced during fermentation by metabolism of non-volatile precursors such as 3--gluthathionylhexanal (glut-3SH-al). The biogenesis of 3SH is not fully understood, and the role of glut-3SH-al in this pathway is yet to be elucidated.
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