Thiols usually occur in trace amounts in foods. However, they rank among the most potent key aroma compounds, due to their extremely low odor thresholds down to the femtogram level. Despite the great importance of thiols in flavor chemistry, few data are available on structure-odor relationships of thiols.In this study, various homologous series of aliphatic thiols (C-3 to C-10) were synthesized, with differing positions of the SH-group, and differing additional functional groups. Odor thresholds in air, and odor qualities at threshold concentrations, were determined by means of GC-olfactometry and correlated with the chemical structure. With this dataset, a 3D-QSAR-model was created, which was able to predict the thresholds of so far unknown thiols.Results are discussed with respect to the specific role of sulfur compounds in human odorant perception.

Structure-odor relationships in homologous series of thiols

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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