M. Nedjma, N. Hoffmann
Dec 18, 1996
Citations
0
Influential Citations
35
Citations
Journal
Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
Abstract
In the presence of copper(II), hydrogen sulfide reacts with thiols (methanethiol and ethanethiol) to yield symmetrical or unsymmetrical trisulfides (dimethyl trisulfide, diethyl trisulfide, and ethyl methyl trisulfide). In alcoholic beverages, these compounds are known for their nauseous character, reminiscent of onion smell, and for their low detection levels (dimethyl trisulfide: 0.1 μg/L). A mechanism for trisulfide formation is proposed that involves a two-step redox reaction. Keywords: Symmetrical and unsymmetrical disulfides; symmetrical and unsymmetrical trisulfides; copper catalysis