The role of 2-hydroxypropanal in the biosynthesis of 2,5-dimethyl-4-hydroxy-2H-furan-3-one in strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa, cv. Elsanta) callus cultures

2-Hydroxypropanal was synthesized utilising a new approach via the Curtius rearrangement, which has the great advantage that the only co-product is ammonium chloride. 2-Hydroxypropanal was, without isolation, fed in situ to strawberry callus cultures in order to study the biosynthesis of 2,5-dimethyl-4-hydroxy-2H-furan-3-one. The high levels of the furanone obtained suggest that 2-hydroxy-propanal is a key precursor of 2,5-dimethyl-4-hydroxy-2H-furan-3-one in strawberry.