Due to this pH dependency, a neutral pH seems to be the best compromise to generate 2-AT and ADHT using single step approach. Single step reaction of glucose with glutamic acid and cysteine (each 0.4 mol/L) at pH7 (phosphate buffer, 0.5 mol/L) yielded 17 .mu.g 2-AT and 29 .mu.g ADHT per mol of cysteine after 30 minutes at 100.degree. C.