Grosch and co-workers (1992; 1993) studied the influence of thiamine as a possible precursor for the formation of the important meat flavor compound, 2-methyl-3-furanthiol, and its oxidised form bis-(2-methyl-3-furfuryl)disulfide. Van der Linde et al. (1979) found 5-(2-hydroxyethyl)-4-methylthiazole among the primary products of thiamine heated in buffer at 130°C, and suggested that it is formed as a result of the attack by a hydroxyl ion on the carbon atom connecting the thiazole and prymidine ring systems (Figure 1j).