Exploring the formation pathway and antioxidant properties of the sugar-smoking pigment 5-GGMF

[Display omitted] •Construction of a sugar-smoking model reaction to study the primary pathways of sugar-smoking pigment formation.•The primary source of 5-HMF was identified as fructose resulting from the cleavage of sucrose at 330 °C.•The primary pathway for the formation of 5-GGMF was attributed to the intermolecular dehydration of 5-HMF and glucose at 150 °C.•The 5-HMF-glucose model reaction product displayed stronger radical scavenging abilities. The present study aimed to elucidate the pathway of pigment formation and identify the source of antioxidant activity during sugar smoking. Building upon previous research, this investigation replicated the sucrose cleavage process involved in sugar-smoking through model reactions to obtain distinct model reaction products. The products were analyzed using various techniques such as ultraviolet–visible spectrometry, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, high-performance liquid chromatography, and high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The findings revealed that the pyrolysis of sucrose at 330 °C yielded glucose and fructose, with fructose pyrolysis producing significantly more 5-HMF than glucose. Moreover, the antioxidant capacity of 5-HMF was found to make a substantial contribution. The primary source of 5-HMF was identified as fructose resulting from the cleavage of sucrose at 330 °C, while the primary pathway for the formation of the sugar-smoking pigment 5-GGMF was attributed to the intermolecular dehydration of 5-HMF and glucose at 150 °C.