The color expression of copigmentation between malvidin-3-O-glucoside and three phenolic aldehydes in model solutions: The effects of pH and molar ratio

Copigmentation was investigated in model solutions between the anthocyanin malvidin-3-O-glucoside and three phenolic aldehydes (vanillic, syringic and coniferyl aldehydes) as a function of the pH and the pigment/copigment molar ratio. Tristimulus colorimetry was applied to evaluate the chromatic variations induced by copigmentation process. The results indicated that the greatest magnitude of copigmentation was obtained at pH 3.0 and molar ratio of 1:100, being significantly higher with coniferyl aldehyde, followed by syringic and vanillic aldehydes. The equilibrium constant (K) and Gibbs free energies (ΔG°) determined here show a spontaneous exothermic reaction. Theoretical calculations (ΔGbinding, ΔE) specified the relative arrangement of the pigment and copigment molecules within the complexes. In addition, an atoms in molecules (AIM) analysis was used to explore the main driving forces contributing to the formation of copigmentation complexes.