RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 The Production of Aldehydes as a Result of Oxidation of Polyphenolic Compounds and its Relation to Wine Aging JF American Journal of Enology and Viticulture JO Am J Enol Vitic. FD American Society for Enology and Viticulture SP 119 OP 126 DO 10.5344/ajev.1974.25.2.119 VO 25 IS 2 A1 H. L. Wildenradt A1 V. L. Singleton YR 1974 UL http://www.ajevonline.org/content/25/2/119.abstract AB Evidence is presented showing that oxidation of ethanol to acetaldehyde by direct chemical reaction with air occurs at an appreciable rate in wine only by a coupled autoxidation of certain phenolic substances occurring in the wine. The oxidation of vicinal di- and tri-hydroxyphenols like caffeic acid, catechin, or myricetin in 12% ethanol model wine produced acetaldehyde. Similar reaction in aqueous 1-propanol produced propanal showing that the source of the volatile aldehyde is the wine's alcohol. A mechanism is postulated which appears to be general for autoxidation of phenols, ascorbic acid, melanoidins, reductones, enediols, and related compounds whereby the oxidation of the phenol to a quinone (or ascorbic to dehydroascorbic, etc.) coproduces a strong oxidant, probably hydrogen peroxide, which then can oxidize other substances in the wine such as ethanol. Relevance of these findings to wine storage and aging reactions is discussed.