Synthesis and characterization of gamma-N-(2-furoylmethyl)aminobutyric acid

The product of acid hydrolysis of the Amadori compound gamma-N-(1-deoxy-D-f ructosyl)aminobutyric acid was isolated and identified by H-1 NMR and C-13 NMR as gamma-N-(2-furoylmethyl)aminobutyric acid. This compound is an analo gue to furosine, formed during acid hydrolysis of the corresponding Amadori compound. The retention time of the isolated compound was the same as that of the main peak observed in acid hydrolysates of stored orange juice powd er. gamma-N-(2-Furoylmethyl)aminobutyric acid can be a useful indicator of the early stages of Maillard reaction in foods containing free gamma-aminob utyric acid.