Biosynthesis and characterization of 3-hydroxyalkan-2-ones and 2,3-alkanediols: potential products of aldehyde metabolism.

ABSTRACT

A mass spectrometric study of an enzymatic synthesis of 3-hydroxyalkan-2-ones (acyloins) is presented. Incubation of pyruvate or (13C3)pyruvate and various alkanals in the presence of pig heart pyruvate dehydrogenase or yeast pyruvate decarboxylase resulted in the formation of acyloins with chains two carbons longer than the alkanals. Product formation was rapid for all saturated aldehydes with chain lengths from 2 to 12 carbons. Incubation with 2,3-unsaturated aldehydes did not produce condensation products. Reduction of acyloins with sodium borohydride produced the corresponding 2,3-alkanediols. Analysis by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry was used to characterize the 3-hydroxyalkan-2-ones as the oxime-trimethylsilyl derivatives and the 2,3-alkanediols as the bistrimethylsilyl derivatives.