The chirality of #alpha#-terpineol in aromatic wines. Detection of chiral or racemic linalool addition in wines

摘要

Whilst acid-catalyzed transformations of nerol and geraniol, as well as racemization of natural chiral linalool, can be rationalized by means of classical carbocation mediated reactions, linalool isomerization to #alpha#-terpineol follows a different, specific mechanism leading to a chiral compound. The stereospecific formation of #alpha#-terpineol isomers allows the addition of the R(-) isomer or racemic linalool in musts and wines to be detected, since only the S(+) isomer of linalool is present in grape musts.