Abstract
Optically active citramalic acid (CMA) is naturally present as an acidic taste component in fruits, such as apples. The absolute configuration of CMA in such fruits was investigated by high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) following pre-column derivatization with a chiral reagent, benzyl 5-(2-aminoethyl)-3-methyl-4-oxoimidazolidine-1-carboxylate. The developed LC-MS/MS method successfully separated the enantiomers of CMA using an octadecylsilica column with a resolution and separation factor of 2.19 and 1.09, respectively. Consequently, the R-form of CMA was detected in the peel and fruit of three kinds of apple at concentrations in the 1.24-37.8 and 0.138-1.033 mg/wet 100 g ranges, respectively. In addition, R- CMA was present in commercial apple juice, whereas no quantity was detected in commercial blueberry, perilla, or Japanese apricot juice.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
