?-Sultines: a new class of flavour compounds

3-Propyl-γ-sultine has been identified for the first time in extracts of yellow passion fruit (Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa). The chemical structure of this new molecule was confirmed by synthesis. Some other analogues were prepared using a general and efficient method. A biosynthetic pathway involving the presence of 3-sulphanylhexanol as a precursor is proposed. In addition, the chirality of the natural sultine has been evaluated by chiral gas chromatography. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.