Novel syntheses of the major flavor components of bread and cooked rice

A new synthetic pathway toward the Maillard flavor compounds 6-acyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyridines and 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline is presented. The reaction sequence involves deprotonation of a vicinal diimine and subsequent alkylation with an N,N-diprotected omega-bromoalkylamine, followed by deprotection and intramolecular transimination of the functionalized intermediate. Acidic workup affords the above-mentioned heterocycles, which are principal flavor constituents of bread and cooked rice, respectively. In addition, the synthesis of the more stable diethyl acetal of 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline is described.