Mechanistic aspect of 3-methyl-2-butene-1-thiol formation in beer and reactivity of iso-α-acids

Author(s)

Gustavo Tokoro Riether

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: São Carlos.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Química de São Carlos (IQSC/BT)
• Defense date: 2010-06-25

Examining board members

Daniel Rodrigues Cardoso; Mauricio Boscolo; João Batista de Almeida e Silva

• Advisor: Daniel Rodrigues Cardoso

Abstract

Beer is a fermented alcoholic beverage based on starch and flavored by hops (Humulus lupulus L.). The α-acids are extracted from hop cones and isomerize into iso-α-acids (IAAs) during the wort boiling, in cis- and trans- configuration, providing foam quality and the characteristic bitter taste of beer. In this work, is reported that these compounds undergo degradation photosensitized by flavins (Φ = 4,8x10-3 mol einstein-1), even in the presence of phenolic compounds (ferulic acid, Φ = 2,0x10-3 mol einstein-1) in 10-fold molar excess, suggesting that radicals formed during the deactivation of triplet excited state of riboflavin by phenolic compounds may be involved in the degradation of IAAs. Dimers and trimers derived from ferulic and p-coumaric acids were identified by LC-ESI-IT-MS as the main photoproducts of the phenolic compounds. We report the reactivity of the different diastereoisomers of IAAs towards the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH•) radical, as a model for peroxyl radical, k2 = 0,41 e 1,3 L mol-1 s-1 for the reaction with cis-IAA and trans-IAA in ethanol acidified with 1% of formic acid, at the temperature of 25 °C, respectively. These specifics rate constants suggest that the degradation of the bitter acids via thermal reactions in an radicaloid process is important during the storage of the product since the reaction rate constant for IAAs and the DPPH• radical are competitive with the reaction rate constants for naturally occurring antioxidants in beer with the DPPH• radical ([ferulic acid] = 0,2mg/Lbeer; k2 = 1,18.102 M-1s-1). The analysis of the thermodynamical data (IAAs mixture, ΔH‡ = 25 kJ mol-1 e ΔS‡ = -155 J mol-1 K-1) suggest a HAT/PCET oxidation mechanism of IAAs by DPPH• radical. The difference of reactivity observed for the diastereoisomers (cis-/trans-) is possibly related to the stereochemical arrangement of the isohexonoyl and prenyl side chains connected to C(4) and C(5) carbons, respectively. In this way, is suggested that the spatial proximity of the insaturation sites in the trans- species lead to a increase in electronic density or due to a statistical factor since the allylic-H are close spatially, which favors the oxidation via radicaloid. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 07/06199-2 - Mechanistic aspect of 3-methyl-2-butene-1-thiol formation in beer
• Grantee: Gustavo Tokoro Riether
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master