Several families of 3,4-dimethylthiolane-based compounds spontaneously formed upon cutting of onion (Allium cepa) were studied. We report the isolation of the first known example of a naturally occurring dithiolactone, 5-hydroxy-3,4-dimethylthiolane-2-thione (cepadithiolactone A, C6H10OS2). Furthermore, on the basis of conceivable spectroscopic evidence (MS, NMR, IR), we could disprove the structure previously proposed for onionin A (C9H16O2S2), which is shown to be in fact (E)-3,4-dimethyl-5-(1-propenylsulfinyl)thiolane-2-ol. The identification of hitherto unknown methyl and propyl homologues of onionin A (dubbed onionins B and C, respectively) is also reported. Furthermore, the existence of the methyl and propyl homologues of cepathiolanes A (C9H16O2S3), trivially named cepathiolanes B and C, respectively, has been newly revealed. The organoleptic properties of these 3,4-dimethylthiolanes and their role in the formation of the pink discoloration of processed onion were also evaluated.
Keywords: 3,4-dimethylthiolane; ajothiolane; allithiolane; cepadithiolactone; cepathiolane; discoloration; dithiolactone; garlicnin; isoalliin; onion; onionin; pinking; zwiebelane isomer.