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Synthesis and identification of 3-Oxazolines in cocoa

Spooner, H., Balagiannis, D., Czepa, A., Suess, B., Trotin, M., O'nion, P. and Parker, J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4121-5481 (2025) Synthesis and identification of 3-Oxazolines in cocoa. Journal of Agriculture and Food Research. ISSN 26661543 (In Press)

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Abstract/Summary

Adding water to chocolate is known to cause a large increase in the concentration of Strecker aldehydes which are key aroma compounds in cocoa. 3-Oxazolines may be precursors responsible for this, however only a low concentration of 2-isobutyl-5-methyl-3-oxazoline was previously identified in chocolate. This study investigates the possibility of other types of 3-oxazolines being the relevant precursors present in cocoa. A range of novel 3-oxazolines were synthesized and characterized by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Using the synthesized compounds as references, four of these were identified by GC-MS for the first time in aroma extracts of cacao nibs, cocoa liquor and chocolate, obtained by solvent-assisted flavor evaporation. This study may reveal a new focus for enhancing cocoa aroma, and potentially other roasted food products as well.

Item Type:Article
Refereed:Yes
Divisions:Interdisciplinary centres and themes > Chemical Analysis Facility (CAF) > NMR (CAF)
Life Sciences > School of Chemistry, Food and Pharmacy > Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences > Food Research Group
ID Code:122659
Publisher:Elsevier

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