Initiation of peroxidation

Figure 6. "NO protects cells from lipid peroxidation-induced cell damage. HL-60 cells at 5 x lOVml were assayed for trypan blue uptake just before iron addition in the presence or absence of NO (0.9 pM) addition, then at 7, 14, and 20 min after the initiation of peroxidation. Each data point represents the mean of at least three independent determinations and the bars the standard error. Membrane leakage was significantly different at 14 min (p=0.01) and 20 min (p=0.005). (Drawn using our data abstracted from Kelley, E.E., Wagner, B.A., Buettner, G.R., and Bums, C.P., 1999, Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 370 97-104.

Phenolic acids and flavonoids can also act as chelating agents, complexing transition metals that are responsible of the initiation of peroxidative processes (Fenton and Haber-Weiss reactions). This property is much stronger in phenolics having a catechol, pyrogallol, or 3-hydroxy-4-carbonyl group [130]. 

Inhibition of peroxidation of unsaturated lipid chains in biomembranes is of particular significance and interest, because uncontrolled oxidation disrupts the protective layer around cells provided by the membranes. Furthermore, radical chain transfer reactions can also initiate damage of associated proteins, enzymes and DNA. The volume of literature is immense and expanding in the field of antioxidants. We will select certain milestones of advances where micelles and lipid bilayers, as mimics of biomembranes, provided media for quantitative studies on the activities of phenolic antioxidants. One of us, L. R. C. Barclay, was fortunate to be able to spend a sabbatical in Dr. Keith Ingold s laboratory in 1979-1980 when we carried out the first controlled initiation of peroxidation in lipid bilayers of egg lecithin and its inhibition by the natural antioxidant a-Toc . A typical example of the early results is shown in Figure 4. The oxidizability of the bilayer membrane was determined in these studies, but we were not aware that phosphatidyl cholines aggregate into reverse micelles in non-protic solvents like chlorobenzene, so this determination was not correct in solution. This was later corrected by detailed kinetic and P NMR studies, which concluded that the oxidizability of a lipid chain in a bilayer is very similar to that in homogeneous solution . ... 

Figure 7. Yield vs. time curves for copolymerization. A, spontaneous initiation with peroxidized monomer at —60 °C B, normal UV initiation with pure monomer at —60 °C C, UV initiation of peroxidized monomer at —60 °C following storage...

To provide the antioxidant activity, the agent is previously incorporated into the package walls wherefrom it reduces the presenee of radical o)q gen species from the surrounding headspace, reducing the initiation of peroxidation reactions. Another mechanism of action is the agent release into the headspace and/or food surface where it provides the food with antioxidant protection. The methods of incorporation are similar to those already mentioned in Section 10.1.2 and described in Figures 10.1 and 10.2. 

The hydroxyl radical is one of the most reactive free radicals known in chemistry. It is 10 more reactive than hydroperoxyf and it extracts a hydrogen atom at every encoimter with a hydrocarbon. It is thus also one of the most potent initiators of peroxidation known. It is not surprising then that the subsequent polymer degradation reactions are dominated by abiotic peroxidation chemistry. 

FIGURE 6 17 Mechanism of peroxide initiated free radical polymerization of ethylene... 

As we saw when discussing allylic brommation m Section 10 4 N bromosuccm imide (NBS) is a convenient free radical brommatmg agent Benzylic brommations with NBS are normally performed m carbon tetrachloride as the solvent m the presence of peroxides which are added as initiators As the example illustrates free radical bromi nation is selective for substitution of benzylic hydrogens... 

Poly (methyl Acrylate). The monomer used for preparing poly(methyl acrylate) is produced by the oxidation of propylene. The resin is made by free-radical polymerization initiated by peroxide or azo catalysts and has the following formula ... 

The effectiveness of phenoHc inhibitors is dependent on the presence of oxygen and the monomers must be stored under air rather than an inert atmosphere. Temperatures must be kept low to minimise formation of peroxides and other products. Moisture may cause mst-initiated polymerization. 

The type of initiator utilized for a solution polymerization depends on several factors, including the solubiUty of the initiator, the rate of decomposition of the initiator, and the intended use of the polymeric product. The amount of initiator used may vary from a few hundredths to several percent of the monomer weight. As the amount of initiator is decreased, the molecular weight of the polymer is increased as a result of initiating fewer polymer chains per unit weight of monomer, and thus the initiator concentration is often used to control molecular weight. Organic peroxides, hydroperoxides, and azo compounds are the initiators of choice for the preparations of most acryUc solution polymers and copolymers. 

Initiators of suspension polymerization are organic peroxides or azo compounds that are soluble in the monomer phase but insoluble in the water phase. The amount of initiator influences both the polymerization rate and the molecular weight of the product (95). 

Copolymerization is effected by suspension or emulsion techniques under such conditions that tetrafluoroethylene, but not ethylene, may homopolymerize. Bulk polymerization is not commercially feasible, because of heat-transfer limitations and explosion hazard of the comonomer mixture. Polymerizations typically take place below 100°C and 5 MPa (50 atm). Initiators include peroxides, redox systems (10), free-radical sources (11), and ionizing radiation (12). 

Mn (IT) is readily oxidized to Mn (ITT) by just bubbling air through a solution in, eg, nonanoic acid at 95°C, even in the absence of added peroxide (186). Apparently traces of peroxide in the solvent produce some initial Mn (ITT) and alkoxy radicals. Alkoxy radicals can abstract hydrogen to produce R radicals and Mn (ITT) can react with acid to produce radicals. The R radicals can produce additional alkylperoxy radicals and hydroperoxides (reactions 2 and 3) which can produce more Mn (ITT). If the oxygen feed is replaced by nitrogen, the Mn (ITT) is rapidly reduced to Mn (IT). 

However, because of the high temperature nature of this class of peroxides (10-h half-life temperatures of 133—172°C) and their extreme sensitivities to radical-induced decompositions and transition-metal activation, hydroperoxides have very limited utiUty as thermal initiators. The oxygen—hydrogen bond in hydroperoxides is weak (368-377 kJ/mol (88.0-90.1 kcal/mol) BDE) andis susceptible to attack by higher energy radicals ... 

Scratch resistance of polymer from DADC is improved by novel mixtures of peroxide initiators such as 5% isopropyl percarbonate with 3.5% benzoyl peroxide (16). In order to force completion of polymerization and attain the best scratch resistance in lenses, uv radiation is appHed (17). Eyeglass lenses can be made by prepolymerization in molds followed by removal for final thermal cross-linking (18). 

Peroxides decompose when heated to produce active free radicals which ia turn react with the mbber to produce cross-links. The rate of peroxide cure is coatroUed by temperature and selection of the specific peroxide, based on half-hfe considerations (see Initiators, free-RADICAL Peroxy compounds, organic). Although some chemicals, such as bismaleimides, triaHyl isocyanurate, and diaHyl phthalate, act as coagents ia peroxide cures, they are aot vulcanisation accelerators. lastead they act to improve cross-link efftcieacy (cross-linking vs scissioa), but aot rate of cross-link formatioa. 

Thermally induced homolytic decomposition of peroxides and hydroperoxides to free radicals (eqs. 2—4) increases the rate of oxidation. Decomposition to nonradical species removes hydroperoxides as potential sources of oxidation initiators. Most peroxide decomposers are derived from divalent sulfur and trivalent phosphoms. 

Miscellaneous Reactions. Epoxy compounds yield chlorosubstituted carbonates (45). The reaction of chloroformates with hydrogen peroxide or metal peroxides results in the formation of peroxydicarbonates that are used as free-radical initiators of polymerization of vinyl chloride, ethylene, and other unsaturated monomers (46,47). 

Application. Polyesters are cured by free radicals, most commonly produced by the use of peroxides. A wide range of peroxide initiators (qv) are available for use in curing polyesters. Most peroxide initiators are thermally decomposed into free radicals, and the common initiators used at room temperature requke the use of a promoter such as dimethylaniline or cobalt octoate. 

Other Polymerization Methods. Although none has achieved commercial success, there are a number of experimental alternatives to clay-catalyzed or thermal oligomeriza tion of dimer acids. These iaclude the use of peroxides (69), hydrogen fluoride (70), a sulfonic acid ion-exchange resia (71), and corona discharge (72) (see Initiators). 

Most ethers are potentially ha2ardous chemicals because, in the presence of atmospheric oxygen, a radical-chain process can occur, resulting in the formation of peroxides that are unstable, explosion-prone compounds (7). The reaction maybe generalized in terms of the following steps involving initiation, propagation, and termination. 

---