Chirality: An Important Phenomenon Regarding Biosynthesis, Perception, and Authenticity of Flavor Compounds

Chirality plays an important role in flavor research. This will be outlined using selected examples from the key areas analysis, authenticity assessment, biogenesis, and odor perception. Developments of analytical techniques, in particular the use of chiral stationary phases in capillary gas chromatography, enabled the determination of naturally occurring configurations of chiral volatiles at trace levels. Thus, knowledge of pathways and enzymes involved in the biogenesis of chiral substances was acquired, and enantioselective analysis has become a prominent tool in the authenticity assessment of flavorings. Increasing information is also available on structure-odor relationships of chiral flavor compounds and the influence of their configurations on odor thresholds and odor properties. A substantial extension of these data sets and a further understanding of the role of chirality in the perception of aroma compounds is expected from studies on the enantioselectivity of odorant receptor systems. Developments in these areas will be put into a historical perspective, recent progress will be emphasized, and data gaps will be described.