A mechanistic investigation of H/D scrambling processes in flavonoids

Abstract

Several classes of flavonoids, such as anthocyanins, flavonols, flavanols and flavones, undergo a slow H/D exchange on aromatic ring A, leading to full deuteration at positions C(6) and C(8). Within the flavanol class, H-C(6) and H-C(8) of catechin and epicatechin are slowly exchanged in D2O to the corresponding deuterated analogues; even quercetin, a relevant flavonol representative, shows the same behaviour in a D2O/DMSOd6 1:1 solution. Detailed kinetic measurements of these H/D scrambling processes are here reported by exploiting the time-dependent changes of their peak areas in the 1H-NMR spectra taken at different temperatures. A unifying reaction mechanism is also proposed based on our detailed kinetic observations, even taking into account pH and solvent effects. Molecular modelling and QM calculations were also carried out to shed more light on several molecular details of the proposed mechanism.

DOI:

Publication date: September 16, 2021

Issue: Macrowine 2021

Type: Article

Authors

Graziano Guella

Biorganic Chemistry Lab/Dept. of Physics/University of Trento,Federico Bonaldo1, Fulvio Mattivi2, Daniele Catorci*, &, Panagiotis Arapitsas3, Graziano Guella1, * 1  Bioorganic Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Trento, Trento, Italy; 2 Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology – CIBIO and C3A, University of Trento, Trento, Italy; 3 Department of Food Quality and Nutrition, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach (FEM), San Michele all’Adige, Italy; * D. Catorci passed away on June 27th, 2020

Contact the author

Keywords

flavonoids; chemistry of polyphenols; h/d isotopic scrambling; reaction mechanism

Citation

Related articles…

Mouthfeel effects due to oligosaccharides within a wine matrix

The mouthfeel of wine is one of the most important aspects of the organoleptic experience of tasting wine. In wine a great deal is known about certain compositional components and how they impact mouthfeel perception, such as phenolics. But there are other components where little is understood, such as oligosaccharides. Saccharides in general are found in very low concentrations with wine, especially compared to conventional foods. There is very little information about how oligosaccharides influence the mouthfeel perception of wine.

Rootstocks and climate change: adding up means learning faster

In this video recording of the IVES science meeting 2025, Gonzaga Santesteban (Public University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain) speaks about rootstocks, climate change and meta-analysis. This presentation is based on an original article accessible for free on OENO One.

Gamay and Gamaret winemaking processes using stems: impact on the wine chemical and organoleptic characteristics

AIM: Stalks are empirically known to bring many benefits to the wine such as alcoholic reduction, color protection or improvement of the tannic intensity. Not much used on Swiss grape varieties, the aim of this study was to identify the relevance of using this type of winemaking in the case of Gamay and Gamaret red grape varieties.

Caractérisation des productions vitivinicoles des terroirs du Barolo (Piemonte, Italie)

Le projet “Caractérisation des productions vitivinicoles du Barolo” est né par la volonté de la Région Piémont de créer une équipe multidisciplinaire de recherche pour l’individuation des différences

Agronomic and oenological behavior of the minority Mandón variety on two rootstocks in the D.O. Arribes

A large population of vines of the Mandón minority red variety (synonymous with Garró) has been located in old vineyards of the D.O. Arribes (Zamora and Salamanca) to conserve and recover this minority variety. The wines made with this variety are characterized by their good structure and color, interesting harmony, an excellently low pH, with high acidity, as well as complex aromas of blue fruits and a marked and expressive minerality.