[0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/706,993, filed Nov. 6, 2000. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The invention relates generally to epoxydecenal compounds, and specifically to isomeric forms of epoxydecenal having enhanced flavor potency.  
         BACKGROUND  
         [0003]    Epoxydecenal (trans-4,5-epoxy-(E)-2-decenal) (C 10 H 16 O 2 , MW 168.24) is a known flavorant for foods, beverages, or other products. It enhances the flavor and/or odor of these products, making the products more desirable to the consumer. Epoxydecenal is formed from the degradation of fats, and is found in many foodstuffs, including both foods and beverages such as barley malt, French fries, olive oil, baguettes, peanut oil, hazelnut oil, pumpkinseed oil, rambutan fruit, puff pastries, wheat bread, cooked chicken, cooked beef, cooked pork, boiled salmon, cod, anchovy, oat meal, butter, buttermilk, French beans, oranges, and others.  
           [0004]    The synthesis of epoxydecenal has been described. The compound was prepared by homologation of the precursor aldehyde epoxide using a Wittig reaction. Epoxydecenal exists in nature as a mixture of isomers. The epoxide may be in the cis or trans configuration. For the trans epoxide there are two possible isomers, the (S,S) isomer (FIG. 1A) and the (R,R) isomer (FIG. 1B). The absolute configuration of these two isomers will be either (+) or (−) which is determined by the optical rotation. The substantially pure (S,S) isomer of epoxydecenal has been synthesized, as reported by Zamboni et al., as an intermediate in the total synthesis of 14S,15S-oxido 5Z,8Z,10E,12E-eicosatetraenoic acid ( Tetrahedron Letters,  24:4899-4902 (1983)). The absolute configuration was deduced from a precursor of 2-deoxy-D-ribose.  
           [0005]    The use of a catalyst to yield enantiomerically enriched mixtures of epoxydecenal has been reported by Jacobsen et al. (Chang, Lee, and Jacobsen,  J. Org. Chem.,  58:6939-6941 (1993)). The report demonstrated the utility of this catalyst to perform regio- and enantioselective catalytic epoxidations, in which conjugated polyenes-cis alkenes are reacted in favor of trans alkenes. The catalytic reaction results in mainly the trans epoxide and yields a high enantiomeric enrichment. An enantiomerically enriched mixture of trans-4,5-epoxy-(E)-2-decenal was synthesized from the cis, trans-decadienol, with an enantiomeric excess (EE) of 83%. There was no mention or suggestion by Jacobsen et al. for using this compound as a flavor or ingredient, and the odor of the individual isomers ((−), (+) ) was not described.  
           [0006]    Racemic mixtures of epoxydecenal have been synthesized for use as an odorant (Schieberle et al,.  Z Lebensm Unters Forsch  192:130-135 (1991) and Lin et al.,  Lipids  (1999), 34:1117-1126). In Schieberle, epoxidation of decadienal with 3-chloroperbenzoic acid yielded the epoxydecenal mixtures. The compound was prepared for evaluation as an odorant in wheat bread crumbs and for comparison of gas chromatography retention times with known samples. Lin synthesized epoxydecenal using a Wittig reaction as a key step. In both of these reports, there is no mention of the odor activity of the individual optical isomers. The odor of the geometric isomers (cis and trans) was described by Schieberle (Book of Abstracts, 218 th  American Chemical Society National Meeting, New Orleans, Aug. 22-26 (1999), AGFD-016).  
           [0007]    Among all the reports describing the use of epoxydecenal in foodstuffs, the publication by Buttery ( J. Agric. Food Chem.,  46:2764-2769 (1998)), studying corn tortilla chips, mentioned the use of epoxydecenal isomers and stated that two isomers of 4,5-epoxy-(E)-2-decenal (labeled as isomer A and isomer B) were identified. Buttery neither teaches nor discloses the odor or potency of the individual isomers.  
           [0008]    A method to enhance intensity of an epoxydecenal flavorant taking advantage of activity of epoxydecenal isomers is desirable.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0009]    The invention is directed to an epoxydecenal flavorant composition having increased potency. The composition contains epoxydecenal that has been enriched to contain at least about 90% of the (−) isomeric form. In some embodiments, the composition may contain up to about 99% of the (−) isomeric form. The composition may be used to flavor foodstuffs, such as foods and beverages, or it may be used in other products such as health care products and pharmaceuticals. It may be added as a neat compound, in a solvent, in a solid form, or in an encapsulated form.  
           [0010]    The invention is also directed to a method of flavoring a product with epoxydecenal (trans-4,5-epoxy-(E)-2-decenal). In the method, epoxydecenal (trans-4,5-epoxy-(E)-2-decenal) that has been enriched to contain at least about 90% of the (−) isomeric form is added in an amount sufficient to flavor the product. The amount may be in the range of 0.001 ppb to 100 ppm. The product may be a foodstuff.  
           [0011]    The composition provides an epoxydecenal (trans-4,5-epoxy-(E)-2-decenal) flavorant with enhanced intensity, permitting a lower concentration of the flavorant to achieve a desired product taste and/or aroma. This results in a more efficient and economical product. These and other embodiments and advantages of the invention will be apparent in light of the following figures and detailed description. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES  
       [0012]    [0012]FIG. 1A shows the chemical structure of the epoxydecenal S,S isomer.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 1B shows the chemical structure of the epoxydecenal R,R isomer.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIGS. 2A, 2B,  2 C and  2 D show the individual steps in synthesizing enantiomerically enriched epoxydecenal.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 3 shows a chromatogram of racemic epoxydecenal separated by gas chromatography (GC) using a chiral column.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 4 shows the synthetic scheme for enantiomerically enriched mixtures of trans-4,5-epoxy-(E)-2-decenal.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 5 shows a chromatogram of epoxydecenal synthesized using an S,S catalyst and separated by GC using a chiral column.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 6 shows a chromatogram of epoxydecenal synthesized using an R,R catalyst and separated by GC using a chiral column. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0019]    Until now, the desired taste and/or odor imparted by epoxydecenal (trans-4,5-epoxy-(E)-2-decenal) was due to the racemic mixture of its (−) and (+) isomers. It is the (−) isomer, compared to the (+) isomer, that imparts a more intense flavor and/or odor to products, such as foodstuffs. A more intense flavor and/or odor is defined as one that produces a relatively higher-impact taste and/or aroma in comparison to another flavor. Lesser amounts of the (−) form, therefore, can be used to achieve enhanced product taste and/or aroma. This is more cost effective (greater activity per unit of weight), more production efficient, has broader applicability, and results in a more desirable product taste.  
         [0020]    Thus, one embodiment of the invention is a method to achieve a substantially pure (−) isomeric form. The synthesis of this enantiomerically enriched (−) form is shown in the following sequence.  
       Synthesis of Enantiomerically Enriched Epoxydecenal  
       [0021]    Step 1: Synthesis of Compounds A and A 1  deca-trans-2-cis-4-dien-1-ol  
         [0022]    With reference to FIG. 2A, to a 750 mL 3-neck flask under nitrogen was added 4.16 g of lithium aluminum hydride (110 mmol) (0.55 eq.) (LiAIH 4 , 37.9, Chemmetall) and 300 mL diethyl ether (Fluka, purris). Ethyl decadienoate, 39.24 g (200 mmol) in 80 mL diethyl ether (Fluka, puriss) was added over a period of 45 min, between 33-35° C. After the addition 120 mL diethyl ether (Fluka, puriss) was added. The grey suspension was stirred for 18 h (overnight) at room temperature. Water was added to the grey suspension under careful ice cooling until the grey color disappeared. The mixture was extracted twice with ether. The organic layers were washed with NaCI (saturated), dried over MgSO 4  and concentrated (down to 0.3 torr). From this, 30.83 g of a slightly yellow liquid (COMPOUND A) was recovered (100% yield).  
         [0023]    Step 2: Synthesis of Compound B acetic acid deca-trans-2-cis-4-dienyl-ester  
         [0024]    With reference to FIG. 2B, to a 500 mL 3-neck flask under nitrogen was added 15.43 g of COMPOUND A (100.0 mmol), 50 mL of pyridine (Fluka, puriss, C 5 H 5 N, 79.10) and 20.42 g of acetic anhydride (200.0 mmol) (2 eq.) (Fluka, puriss, C 4 H 6 O 3 , 102.86) were added. The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 3 h. The mixture was poured on ice, acidified with HCI (concentrated), and extracted twice with ether. The organic layers were washed with NaHCO 3  (saturated), dried over MgSO 4  and concentrated (to 0.3 torr). From this, 19.6 g of a yellow liquid (COMPOUND B) was recovered (100% yield).  
         [0025]    Step 3: Synthesis of Compound C (−)-acetic acid 3-(3-pentyl-trans-oxiranyl)-allyl ester  
         [0026]    With reference to FIG. 2C, following a similar procedure reported in  J. Org. Chem.  58:6939 (1993) and  J. Org. Chem.  56:2296 (1991), to a 1000 mL flask with a magnetic stir bar was added 9.50 g of COMPOUND B (48.40 mmol), 300 mL of ethyl acetate (Fluka, puriss) and 1.23 g of 4,4-Jacobsen Catalyst (R,R)—(−)—N,N′—bis(3,5-di-tert-butylsalicylidene)-1,2-cyclohexanediamino-manganese (III) chloride (1.9360 mmol) (0.04 eq.) (Fluka, C 36 H 52 ClMnN 2 O 2 , 635.22) were added. After cooling in an ice bath 352 mL of NaOCI buffer (0.55 M, pH 11.3) 10 mL Na 2 HPO 4  (0.05 M), 10.6 g NaOCI (12-15% in water) diluted to 25 mL and adjusted to pH 11.3 (193.06 mmol) (4.0 eq.) were added. The black mixture was stirred for 7 h at 0° C. and 13.5 h at room temperature. The mixture was extracted twice with ethyl acetate. The organic layers were washed with NaCI (saturated), dried over MgSO 4  and concentrated. The brown liquid was filtered through triethyl amine deactivated silica gel with ether/hexane (10/90). During the filtration through silica the catalyst is separated from the product and is not carried to the next step. The catalyst may be recycled for economic reasons. It is also possible to use 4-phenyl pyridine-N-oxide as a co-catalyst (0.20 eq) and, when used, slightly better enantiomer excesses (EE) and trans epoxide to cis epoxide ratios were obtained. The filtrate was concentrated (down to 0.3 torr) and, from this, 10.83 g of a brown liquid was recovered (some of the catalyst remained in this liquid). The catalyst which remained on the column was washed off with ether and crystallized in ether/hexane, with 0.12 g dark brown crystals recovered.  
         [0027]    Step 4: Synthesis of Compounds D and E 3-(3-pentyl-trans-oxiranyl)-prop-2-en-1-ol and (−)-trans-4,5-(E)-2-decenal  
         [0028]    With reference to FIG. 2D, to a 500 mL flask with a magnetic stir bar was added 10.5 g of COMPOUND C (48.40 mmol), 100 mL of methanol (Riedel de Haen, dried) and 242 mL of a methanolic ammonia solution (484 mmol) (10 eq.) (Aldrich, 2 M in methanol) under cooling. The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 20 h. The mixture was concentrated at room temperature to yield COMPOUND D, which was used directly for the oxidation. To the oil in the 500 mL flask was added under nitrogen 300 mL of tetrahydrofuran (Fluka, absolute, over molecular sieve) and 24.98 g of manganese (IV) oxide (286.4 mmol) (6.4 eq.) (Merck, precipitated active for synthesis, vacuum dried, MnO 2 , 86.94) was added. The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 80 h. The mixture was filtered through triethyl amine deactivated silica gel (hexane/ether, 90/10). During the filtration through silica the starting material is separated from the product for a successful distillation. The fractions containing the product were concentrated and distilled twice to give 2 g of the product (COMPOUND E) as a light yellow oil (26.6% yield over the last two steps).  
       Separation and Potency Evaluation of Epoxydecenal Isomers  
       [0029]    Chirality is based on the phenomenon of isomerism, in which two compounds may have the same composition but the arrangement of the atoms is different, resulting in molecular structures, termed enantiomers, that are the mirror images of one another. Frequently, one isomer exhibits a different activity than the other and may even inhibit the other. For example, the (+) isomer of carvone has a caraway-like odor, and the (−) is more spearmint-like. In pharmaceuticals, one chirally pure compound may have fewer unwanted side-effects and greater activity, allowing for lower dosages.  
         [0030]    We first synthesized trans-4,5-epoxy-(E)-2-decenal as a racemic mixture of isomers (not described). The individual isomers were separated from each other by gas chromatography (GC) using a chiral column, specifically a Hydrodex-b-3P 25 m×0.25 mm column using a 110° C. isotherm, with 60 kPa H 2  as a carrier gas and a 1:50 split. As shown in FIG. 3, two peaks were obtained. The first peak had a retention time of 50.68 min and was present at a concentration of 50.99%. The second peak had a retention time of 51.92 min and was present at a concentration of 49.01%.  
         [0031]    The GC apparatus was equipped with a port to allow access to the odor from particular fractions eluted from the chromatography column (“sniff port”). By separating the two isomers and evaluating the odor of each, it was determined that the second fraction to elute had a more potent odor and was the dominant contributor to the overall odor of the mixture. The second-eluting fraction was the (−) isomer, as will be described.  
         [0032]    Three sets of trans-4,5-(E)-2-decenal were synthesized: the racemic mixture, the set enriched in the (−) isomer, and the set enriched in the (+) isomer. The result of the sensory evaluation of the epoxydecenal isomers in water by one flavorist is as follows:  
                                                                 Concentration                   (parts per               Isomer   billion)   Odor/Taste   Rating                                (+/−)   0.02   no smell, very faint metallic taste   medium           0.20   clear metallic smell and taste           20.00   strong metallic and green bean                taste       (+)   0.02   no smell, no taste   weakest           0.20   mild metallic smell and taste           20.00   clear metallic and bean taste/smell       (−)   0.02   faint smell, mild metallic taste   strongest           0.20   strong metallic smell/taste           20.00   strong metallic and bean taste/               smell                  
 
         [0033]    The profile in all the samples was more or less the same, with the (−) isomer being at least 3-5 times stronger than the (+/−) racemate and 10 times stronger than the (+) isomer.  
         [0034]    Another flavorist used the (−) isomer in several different flavors at 2 ppb. It made a raspberry flavor fuller and juicier. It gave an apple flavor a more natural green note and it gave a rye bread flavor a more fresh bread character.  
         [0035]    Enantiomerically enriched mixtures containing the individual isomers were synthesized. The synthetic scheme shown in FIG. 4 was followed, using Jacobsen&#39;s epoxidation catalyst. The R,R catalyst yielded trans-4,5-epoxy-(E)-2-decenal with an enantiomeric excess (EE) of 83.2%. The S,S catalyst yielded an EE of 84.3%. Each enriched isomer was then analyzed, using the same chiral GC column and conditions as previously described for the mixture. The results are shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6.  
         [0036]    With reference to FIG. 5, the GC separation is shown using a chiral column to which the isomer synthesized using the S,S catalyst was applied. The major peak, having a relative concentration of 86.66%, had a retention time of 50.60 min. This closely corresponded to the first peak in FIG. 3 which had a retention time of 50.68 min. Thus, the first peak in FIG. 3 was identified as the (+) isomer.  
         [0037]    With reference to FIG. 6, the GC separation is shown using a chiral column to which the isomer synthesized using the R,R catalyst was applied. The major peak, having a relative concentration of 80.69%, had a retention time of 51.85 min. This closely corresponded to the second peak in FIG. 3 which had a retention time of 51.92 min. Thus, the second peak in FIG. 3 was identified as the (−) isomer.  
         [0038]    The (−) isomer may be diluted in various solvents such as triacetin, ethanol, water, etc., to obtain the desired concentration used in a flavor matrix. A trained flavor scientist determined that the more potent odor was due to the isomer that had been synthesized as shown in FIG. 4 using the R,R catalyst.  
         [0039]    The optical activity of the compounds, that is, if it is (−) or (+), was determined by polarimetry. Polarimetric measurements were performed on enantiomerically enriched epoxydecenal synthesized using either the S,S and R,R catalysts to further characterize the isomers. Samples of each isomer dissolved in 1 ml of solvent were added to a 10 cm quartz cell and were analyzed at a temperature of 22° C. For epoxydecenal synthesized using the S,S catalyst, a 13.65 mg sample was dissolved in methyltertbutyl ether (MTBE) to a concentration of 0.68. For epoxydecenal synthesized using the R,R catalyst, a 17.16 mg sample was dissolved in MTBE to a concentration of 0.86. The results are as follows.  
         [0040]    For the compound prepared with the S,S Jacobsen&#39;s catalyst, the optical rotation [α] 22   D  was +31.6° (41 mM, MTBE). For the compound prepared with the R,R Jacobsen&#39;s catalyst, the optical rotation [α] 22   D  was −31.6° (51 mM, MTBE). The same extent of optical rotation in different directions indicated that there was about the same amount of the (−) isomer in one fraction as there was the (+) isomer in the other fraction.  
         [0041]    The absolute configuration of the (−) isomer of trans-4,5-epoxy-(E)-2-decenal was determined. Zamboni et al. reported the optical rotation of the (S,S) isomer of trans-6, 7-epoxy-(E,E)-2, 4-dodecadienal [α] 22   D −27.7° (C˜1, CHCl 3 ) that was made from the (S,S) isomer of trans-4, 5-epoxy-(E)-2-decenal. Using a similar procedure, we converted the (−) isomer of trans-4, 5-epoxy-(E)-2-decenal to trans-6, 7-epoxy-(E,E)-2, 4-dodecadienal. The optical rotation for this compound was [α] 22   D −20.40 (C=1.01, 52 mM, MTBE). Since the rotation for both of the trans-6, 7-epoxy-(E,E)-2, 4-dodecadienals was negative, the absolute configuration of the disclosed molecule is the same as the (S,S) molecule reported by Zamboni et al. The absolute configuration of the (−) isomer of trans-4, 5-epoxy-(E)-2-decenal is therefore (S,S).  
         [0042]    A substantially pure (−) isomer of trans-4,5-epoxy-(E)-2-decenal is defined as one that is enriched to have at least about 90% of the (−) form, with the remainder being the (+) form. However, purity of greater than 90%, up to about 99% enrichment of the (−) isomer, may be obtained. This constitutes 90% to 80% of the total mixture. The mixture may contain 10-20% of cis-4,5-epoxy-(E)-2-decenal.  
         [0043]    It should be understood that the embodiments of the present invention shown and described in the specification are only preferred embodiments of the inventors who are skilled in the art and are not limiting in any way. Therefore, various changes, modifications or alterations to these embodiments may be made or resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the following claims.
A method of producing a potent epoxydecenal flavorant. Trans-4,5-epoxy-(E)-2-decenal is enriched to contain at least 90% of the (-) isomer and is added to a product in an amount sufficient to flavor the product. The product may be a foodstuff, such as a food or beverage. Addition of the substantially pure (-)-trans-4,5-epoxy-(E)-2-decenal isomeric form achieves enhanced product taste and/or aroma, and provides increased economy and efficiency in its production.