Quantification of key odorants formed by autoxidation of arachidonic acid using isotope dilution assay

Six odor-active compounds generated by autoxidation of arachidonic acid (AA) were quantified by isotope dilution assay (IDA), i.e., hexanal (1), 1-octen-3-one (2), (E,Z)-2,4-decadienal (3), (E,E)-2,4-decadienal (4), trans-4,5-epoxy-(E)-2-decenal (5), and (E,Z,Z)-2,4,7-tridecatrienal (6). Compound 1 was the most abundant odorant with about 700 mg/100 g autoxidized AA, which corresponds to 2.2 mol% yield. Based on the odor activity values (ratio of concentration to odor threshold), odorants 3 (fatty) and 5 (metallic) showed the highest sensory contribution followed by 1 (green), 2 (mushroom-like), 6 (egg white-like), and 4 (fatty). For the first time, reliable quantitative results are reported for odorants 1-6 in autoxidized AA, in particular odorant 6, which is a characteristic compound found in autoxidized AA. Synthesis of deuterated 6, required for IDA, is described in detail. The formation of odorants 1-6 by autoxidation of AA is discussed with respect to the quantitative data.