Determination of physical and spectral data on thiazolidines for trace aldehyde analysis.

Recently, we have developed a simple and accurate analytical method for the determination of trace formaldehyde and methyl glyoxal in foods and beverages.1>2)Formaldehyde or methyl glyoxal is reacted with cysteamine at room temperature and neutral pH to form thiazolidine or 2-acetylthiazolidine.These products are analyzed by gas chromatography using a fused silica capillary column and a nitrogen-phosphorous detector (NPD).Because cysteamine reacts with almost all carbonyl compounds except a,/?-unsaturated aldehydes, this derivatization method was also used to determine trace levels of aldehydes in the headspace of food samples.3%4)In this study, standard thiazolidine derivtives were synthesized as an aid for trace aldehyde analysis in foods and the environment.Their physical properties, mass spectra, and NMR spectra are reported. Preparation of 2-alkylthiazolidine.Authentic unsubstituted thiazolidine was obtained from Aldrich Chemical 2273