Synthesis and pyrolysis of two novel pyrrole ester flavor precursors

In order to develop the high-temperature-released pyrrole aroma, two novel flavors precursors of methyl 2-methyl-5-(((2-methylbutanoyl)oxy)methyl)-1-propyl-1H-pyrrole-3-carboxylate and methyl 2-methyl-5-(((2-methylbutanoyl)oxy)methyl)-1-propyl-1H-pyrrole-3-carboxylate were synthesized using glucosamine hydrochloride and methyl acetoacetate as raw materials through cyclization, oxidation, alkylation, reduction, and esterification. The target compounds were characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance (H-1 NMR, C-13 NMR), infrared spectroscopy (IR) and high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS). Thermogravimetry (TG), differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) and the pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) methods were used to analyze the heating-stability of the target compounds, and the pyrolysis mechanism was inferred. Py-GC/MS results indicated that some fragrance compounds were formed during thermal degradation such as 2-methylbutyric acid, 2-methylbutyrate, alkylpyrroles, and benzoic acid, which were important aroma components or flavor additives. This provided a theoretical reference for the application of pyrrole ester in cigarette and heat-processed food flavoring.