Pyrolysis of chlorogenic acid and rutin.

Abstract

Chlorogenic acid and rutin, major polyphenols in tobacco, were pyrolysed with a furnace type pyrolyser connected directly to a gas chromatograph and 22 compounds (including catechol, benzoic acid, 4-vinylcatechol and quinic acid γ-lactone) from Chlorogenic acid and 24 compounds [including catechol, 5-methyl-2-furaldehyde, 4-methylcatechol and 1, 6-anhydroglucopyranose (levoglucosan)] from rutin have been identified as pyrolysis products. The gas chromatograph was also replaced by a capillary cold trap which allowed collection of the pyrolysis products prior to a quantitative determination using an internal standard. Comparison of the pyrolysis products produced from chlorogenic acid or rutin with those derived from tobacco and analysis of the pyrolysis products from a mixture of tobacco and chlorogenic acid or rutin indicated that fairly large proportions of catechol, 4-vinylcatechol and quinic acid γ-lactone produced by the pyrolysis of tobacco may originate from endogenous chlorogenic acid.