Alkyl pyrazine synthesis via an open heated bath with variable sugars, ammonia, and various amino acids

Abstract BACKGROUND Semi‐quantitative characteristics of headspace volatile pyrazines which constituted around 1% by weight of the final product have been previously described. The influence of reactant concentration, reaction temperature, and reaction time on both the yield of total alkyl pyrazines and the distribution pattern of specific identified pyrazines has not been reported. RESULTS The optimum synthetic conditions were 5 mol L −1 NH 4 OH , 2 mol L −1 rhamnose, 0.5 mol L −1 leucine at 110°C for 2 h. The greatest total amount of pyrazines obtained was 17 280 µg of extracted product which translated into 31% 2,6‐dimethyl pyrazine, 17% 2‐methyl pyrazine, 15% 2‐ethyl‐6‐methyl pyrazine, and 16% 2‐isoamyl‐6‐methyl pyrazine. CONCLUSION The yield of synthesized pyrazines increased at higher temperatures. Quantitative total and specific pyrazine results as opposed to analysis of only headspace volatiles are more representative of pyrazine synthesis. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry