Enantioselective analysis of methyl-branched alcohols and acids in rhubarb (Rheum rhabarbarum L.) stalks

Chirality: An Important Phenomenon Regarding Biosynthesis, Perception, and Authenticity of Flavor Compounds

Chirality plays an important role in flavor research. This will be outlined using selected examples from the key areas analysis, authenticity assessment, biogenesis, and odor perception. Developments of analytical techniques, in particular the use of chiral stationary phases in capillary gas chromatography, enabled the determination of naturally occurring configurations of chiral volatiles at trace levels. Thus, knowledge of pathways and enzymes involved in the biogenesis of chiral substances was acquired, and enantioselective analysis has become a prominent tool in the authenticity assessment of flavorings. Increasing information is also available on structure-odor relationships of chiral flavor compounds and the influence of their configurations on odor thresholds and odor properties. A substantial extension of these data sets and a further understanding of the role of chirality in the perception of aroma compounds is expected from studies on the enantioselectivity of odorant receptor systems. Developments in these areas will be put into a historical perspective, recent progress will be emphasized, and data gaps will be described.

Enantioselective phytoeffects of chiral pesticides

Chirality exists extensively in nature. Synthetic chiral plant growth regulators and other pesticides usually behave enantioselectively in phyto-biochemical processes. Chiral plant growth regulators regulate the physiological processes of plants enantioselectively, and chiral pesticides cause enantioselective toxicities or ecotoxicities to plants. On the other hand, these chiral agrochemicals can be absorbed and enantioselectively metabolized by plants. This review summarizes the enantioselective effects of chiral plant growth regulators on plants and the phytotoxic and biotransformation effects of chiral herbicides and several persistent organic pollutants (POPs) on plants. Together, this information on the interactions between chiral agrochemicals and plants might shed light on studies on the chemical and biological behaviors of chiral chemicals, and direct research into the selection of plants, which can potentially decontaminate the environment.

Comparison of sugar, acids, and volatile composition in raspberry bushy dwarf virus-resistant transgenic raspberries and the wild type 'meeker' (rubus idaeus L.)

Raspberry bushy dwarf virus (RBDV) causes a significant reduction in yield and quality in raspberry and raspberry-blackberry hybrid. Genetic modifications were made to 'Meeker' red raspberries to impart RBDV resistance. The RBDV-resistant transgenic and wild type 'Meeker' plants were grown in Oregon and Washington, and the fruits were harvested in the 2004 and 2005 growing seasons. Year-to-year and site-to-site variations were observed for the degrees Brix and titratable acidity, with Oregon raspberries having slightly higher degrees Brix and lower titratable acidity than Washington raspberries. Twenty-nine volatile compounds were quantified using stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE) paired with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). There were very few differences in volatile concentrations between the transgenic varieties and the wild type 'Meeker'. Much larger variations were observed between sites and harvest seasons. Raspberries grown in Oregon appeared to have higher concentrations of delta-octalactone, delta-decalactone, geraniol, and linalool. Chiral analysis of alpha-ionone, alpha-pinene, linalool, terpinen-4-ol, delta-octalactone, and delta-decalactone demonstrated a much higher percentage of one isomer over the other, particularly alpha-ionone, alpha-pinene, delta-octalactone, and delta-decalactone, with more than 90% of one isomer, while a racemic mixture was observed for linalool. The isomeric analysis revealed very little variation between varieties, locations, or years. The flavor compounds tested in this study did not show any difference between the transgenic lines and the wild type 'Meeker' raspberry.

Volatile composition in raspberry cultivars grown in the Pacific Northwest determined by stir bar sorptive extraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

Twenty-nine volatile compounds in 'Chilliwack', 'Tulameen', 'Willamette', 'Yellow Meeker', and 'Meeker' raspberries were quantified using stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE) paired with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Good correlation coefficients were obtained with most aroma-active compounds in raspberry, with quantification limits of 1 microg/kg. However, poor recoveries were observed for raspberry ketone and zingerone. Quantitative data showed that volatile concentrations varied for different cultivars. Large variations for alpha-ionone, beta-ionone, geraniol, linalool, and ( Z)-3-hexenol were observed in different raspberry cultivars. In addition, the volatile compositions in 'Meeker' raspberry grown at different locations also varied. The chiral isomeric ratios of raspberry ketone, alpha-ionone, alpha-pinene, linalool, terpinen-4-ol, delta-octalactone, delta-decalactone, and 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-ol were studied using a CyclosilB column. alpha-Ionone, alpha-pinene, delta-octalactone, and delta-decalactone had strong chiral isomeric preference, with more than 96% for one isomeric form. Much weaker chiral isomeric preference was observed for terpinen-4-ol, while linalool was almost a racemic mixture. Both growing locations and cultivars affect the isomeric ratio of linalool with a range of 37-51% for ( R)-linalool.

Absolute configuration of the alpha-methylbutyryl residue in longipinene derivatives from Stevia pilosa

The absolute configuration of the alpha-methylbutyryl residue in (4R,5S,7S,8S,9S,10R,11R,2''S)-7-angeloyloxy-9-hydroxy-8-(alpha-methylbutyryloxy)-longipin-2-en-L-one and (4R,5S,7S,8R,10R,11R,2''S)-7-angeloyloxy-8-(alpha-methylbutyryloxy)- longipin-2-en-L-one was determined by chemical correlation with (S)-(+)-benzyl alpha-methylbutyrate prepared from authentic (S)-(+)-alpha-methylbutyric acid. Both compounds were isolated from the hexane extracts of roots of Stevia pilosa Lag. together with four other longipinene derivatives. The developed correlation method is useful to ascertain the chirality of natural alpha-methylbutyryl esters found in nature and to reinforce the hypotheses on the biogenetic origin of these residues.