Glucotropaeolin
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Names | |
|---|---|
| IUPAC name
1-S-[(1Z)-2-Phenyl-N-(sulfooxy)ethanimidoyl]-1-thio-beta-D-glucopyranose | |
| Other names
Benzyl glucosinolate | |
| Identifiers | |
3D model (JSmol) |
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| 61369 | |
| ChEBI | |
| ChemSpider | |
| KEGG | |
PubChem CID |
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CompTox Dashboard (EPA) |
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| Properties | |
| C14H19NO9S2 | |
| Molar mass | 409.42 g·mol−1 |
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Glucotropaeolin or benzyl glucosinolate is a glucosinolate found in cruciferous vegetables, particularly garden cress.[1] Upon enzymatic activity, it is transformed into benzyl isothiocyanate, which contributes to the characteristic flavor of these brassicas.
The compound was first reported in 1899, after its isolation from Tropaeolum majus, a nasturtium species.[2]: Section 2 Glucotropaeolin is now known to occur widely in other brassica families including Caricaceae, Phytolaccaceae, Resedaceae, Salvadoraceae and Tovariaceae.[3]
Structure

The chemical structure of glucotropaeolin was confirmed by total synthesis in 1957. This showed that it is a glucose derivative with β-D-glucopyranose configuration. At that time it was unclear whether the C=N bond was in the Z form, with sulfur and oxygen substituents on the same side of the double bond, or the alternative E form in which they are on opposite sides. The suggestion was made that the Z form was more likely, based on the known decomposition to benzyl isothiocyanate by a mechanism analogous to the Lossen rearrangement.[4] However, when an identical product was obtained by an alternative route in 1963, it was pointed out that the E form would be expected to rearrange in a similar way.[5] The matter was settled by X-ray crystallography and other spectroscopic studies and it is now known that all natural glucosinolates are of Z form.[2]
