Abstract
| - Under alkaline conditions, amino acids or proteins catalyze the deacetylation of citral, a major aromacomponent, resulting in methylheptenone and acetaldehyde formation. 3-Hydroxycitronellal is anintermediate in this reaction. Amino acids also catalyze the cis−trans isomerization of the pureisomers of citral, geranial, and neral. Most likely the amino acids are involved in stabilizingintermediates of the isomerization and deacetylation reaction of citral. On the basis of the findingspresented, some consequences for the application of citral, or its isomers, in food are discussed. Keywords: Citral; geranial; neral; methylheptenone; amino acids; cis−trans isomerization;deacetylation
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