Identification of acrolein as the reactive carbonyl responsible for the formation of 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline (MeIQx).

Reaction mixtures of reactive carbonyls and creatinine were submitted to high temperature and studied to identify the reactive carbonyl(s) responsible for 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline (MeIQx) formation. MeIQx was produced by reaction of acrolein and creatinine within a wide pH range and with an activation energy of 81.1 ± 1.4 kJ/mol. No additional reactants were required, although methylglyoxal, ammonia, and formaldehyde also participated in the reaction. Nevertheless, these additional reactants were produced in situ from either acrolein or creatinine. A reaction pathway that both explains the formation of MeIQx and is valid for the formation of other heterocyclic aromatic amines (HAAs) with the structure of quinoxaline is proposed. Obtained results demonstrate the key role of reactive carbonyls present in foods (the food carbonylome) on HAA formation. Because creatinine is ubiquitous in proteinaceous foods, the control of the food carbonylome seems to be the key point to control HAA formation in foods.

Formation of 3-hydroxypyridines by lipid oxidation products in the presence of ammonia and ammonia-producing compounds.

Pyridines are produced during food processing and are important flavor compounds. In spite of that, their formation pathways are still poorly understood, in particular those related to 3-hydroxypyridines. In an attempt to fill this gap, this study describes, for the first time, precursors and reaction pathways leading to 3-hydroxypyridine formation. 3-Hydroxypyridines are produced by reaction of lipid-derived reactive carbonyls and ammonia-producing compounds and were studied by using gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Their main precursors resulted to be 4,5-epoxy-2-alkenals and 2,4-alkadienals. 3-Hydroxypyridines were produced at temperatures higher than 100 °C, at slightly basic pH values, and with an activation energy of about 50 kJ/mol. A reaction pathway that explains their formation in the course of the lipid oxidation pathway is proposed. The role of lipid oxidation on the production of 3-hydroxypyridines was confirmed by studying their formation in oxidized linseed and menhaden oils heated in the presence of glutamine.

Reactive carbonyls and the formation of the heterocyclic aromatic amine 2-amino-3,4-dimethylimidazo(4,5-f)quinoline (MeIQ).

Reactions involving reactive carbonyls, creatinine, and ammonia-producing compounds were investigated in order to clarify the formation of the heterocyclic aromatic amine (HAA) 2-amino-3,4-dimethylimidazo(4,5-f)quinoline (MeIQ). Obtained results showed that MeIQ was only produced when 2-butenal (crotonaldehyde) was present. Reaction yields depended on the pH, with a maximum around pH 6.5, and on concentrations of crotonaldehyde and creatinine. Ammonia was also required for MeIQ formation, but ammonia was produced by creatinine decomposition. The amount of MeIQ formed increased with reaction time, temperature, and oxygen content in the reaction atmosphere. Activation energy for MeIQ formation from crotonaldehyde, creatinine, and glutamine was 72.2 ± 0.4 kJ·mol-1. A reaction pathway that explains MeIQ formation is proposed. Obtained results suggest a main role of reactive carbonyls formed in foods (the food carbonylome) on HAA formation. In addition, they provide scientific basis for the understanding of how HAAs are formed and could be mitigated.

Conversion of 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural into 6-(Hydroxymethyl)pyridin-3-ol: A Pathway for the Formation of Pyridin-3-ols in Honey and Model Systems.

The formation of 6-(hydroxymethyl)pyridin-3-ol by ring expansion of 5-(hydroxymethyl)furfural (HMF) in the presence of ammonia-producing compounds was studied to determine the routes of formation of pyridin-3-ols in foods. 6-(Hydroxymethyl)pyridin-3-ol was produced from HMF in model systems, mostly at neutral pH values, as a function of reaction times and temperature and with an activation energy (Ea) of 74 ± 3 kJ/mol, which was higher than that of HMF disappearance (43 ± 4 kJ/mol). A reaction pathway is proposed, which is general for the formation of pyridin-3-ols from 2-oxofurans. Thus, it explains the conversions of furfural into pyridin-3-ol and of 2-acetylfuran into 2-methylpyridin-3-ol, which were also studied. When honey and sugarcane honey were heated, they produced different pyridin-3-ols, although 6-(hydroxymethyl)pyridin-3-ol was the pyridine-3-ol produced to the highest extent. Obtained results suggest that formation of pyridin-3-ols in foods is unavoidable when 2-oxofurans are submitted to thermal heating and ammonia (or ammonia-producing compounds) is present.

Identification of Precursors and Formation Pathway for the Heterocyclic Aromatic Amine 2-Amino-3-methylimidazo(4,5-f)quinoline (IQ).

Food processing is responsible for the destruction of some health hazards, but it is responsible for the formation of new ones. Among them, the formation of heterocyclic aromatic amines (HAAs) has received a considerable attention because of their carcinogenicity. In spite of this, HAA formation is still poorly understood. This study was undertaken to identify precursors and formation pathways for 2-amino-3-methylimidazo(4,5-f)quinoline (IQ). IQ was produced by reaction of acrolein, crotonaldehyde, creatinine, and ammonia. Reaction conditions were studied, and its activation energy (Ea) was determined to be 77.0 ± 1.3 kJ/mol. IQ formation was always accompanied by the formation of the HAA 2-amino-3,4-dimethylimidazo(4,5-f)quinoline (MeIQ), which was produced with an Ea of 72.2 ± 0.4 kJ/mol. A reaction pathway for the competitive formation of IQ and MeIQ is proposed. Obtained results demonstrate the significant role of reactive carbonyls (the food carbonylome) in HAA formation and provide evidences for designing HAA mitigation strategies.

Oligomerization of reactive carbonyls in the presence of ammonia-producing compounds: A route for the production of pyridines in foods.

The reactions of different lipid-derived reactive carbonyls with ammonia-producing compounds were studied to investigate the formation of pyridines in foods. 2-Alkyl, 3-alkyl-, and 2,5-dialkylpyiridines were produced by oligomerization of short-chain aldehydes in the presence of ammonia. Thus, acetaldehyde/crotonaldehyde mixtures and 2,4-alkadienals were the main responsible for the formation of 2-alkylpyridines; acrolein or 2,4-alkadienals were needed for the formation of 3-alkylpyridines; and 2-alkenals were responsible for the formation of 2,5-dialkylpyridines. On the contrary, 2,6-dialkylpyridines were produced by cyclization of unsaturated ketones. Reactions pathways for formation of these pyridines are proposed, and confirmed by isotopic labelling experiments. Aldehydes and ketones required for their formation are produced in the course of lipid oxidation. Therefore, pyridine formation seems to be an additional consequence of the lipid oxidation pathway. This new knowledge can employed for the optimization of reactions to achieve the desired targeted flavor generation during food processing.