T. Hofmann et al., MODEL STUDIES ON THE OXIDATIVE STABILITY OF ODOR-ACTIVE THIOLS OCCURRING IN FOOD FLAVORS, Journal of agricultural and food chemistry, 44(1), 1996, pp. 251-255
Dilute ethereal solutions of mercaptoacetone (MA), 2-mercapto-3-butano
ne (MB), 3-mercapto-2-pentanone (MP), 2-methyl-3-furanthiol (MFT), and
2-furfurylthiol (FFT), either alone or in pairs, were stored at 6 deg
rees C. During a period of 10 days the oxidation of the thiols to the
corresponding disulfides or mixed disulfides was followed by high-reso
lution gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. In diethyl ether MFT show
ed the highest oxidation rate, which decreased in the order MFT much g
reater than MA > MP = MP = FFT. After 1 day, mixed disulfides (e.g. MF
T-FFT, FFT-MB) were detectable when pairs of the five thiols dissolved
in diethyl ether were stored at 6 degrees C. MFT oxidized more slowly
in dichloromethane than in diethyl ether, and it was stable in pentan
e. However, a heat treatment increased the oxidation rate of MFT disso
lved in dichloromethane or pentane.