THERMAL DEGRADATION OF GLUCOSINOLATES

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0031-9422(81)83011-7

Three glucosinolates (allyl-, benzyl- and 2-phenethyl-) were shown to degrade thermally in a GC column to yield products identical with those obtained conventionally on enzymic decomposition, namely nitriles and isothiocyanates.Nitriles were formed more readily at 125 deg but the facility for isothiocyanate production varied slightly with the glucosinolate; 2-phenethylglucosinolate was the most labile of those studied yielding isothiocyanate at a column temperature of 150 deg.Temperature was confirmed as the cause of degradation by isolated heated-tube experiments.The results have significance both with regard to analytical methodology for glucosinolates and their products, and with regard to furthering understanding of the mechanisms of glucosinolate degradation.Key Word Index- Criciferae; glucosinolates; nitriles; isothiocyanates; thermal degradation.