Metal-catalyzed free-radical formation preventing

As a consequence, metal chelation is an alternative antioxidant strategy based on sequestering metal ions to prevent metal-catalyzed free radical formation [Brown et al., 1998 Guo et al., 1996 Morel et al., 1998]. To have an antioxidant action by metal chelation, a compound should be (i) able to complex the metal and yield a stable product, and (ii) the resultant complex should be a poor catalyst for the free radical generating reactions where the metal is involved. 

Both the initiation and continuation of the oxidation are materially affected by temperature (oxidation rates are doubled for each 10°C rise in temperature), but may also be catalyzed by the presence of various metals or by light. The termination of the oxidation reaction may result from the exhaustion of the oxygen supply in lubrication systems or from the formation of stable products R + R - R-R) in the oxidation chain reaction. Antioxidant or oxidation inhibitors may function as chain terminating agents by reacting with free radicals to form stable products, by acting as peroxide decomposers, or they may act as metal passivators to prevent catalytic effects. 

Transition metals will promote oxidative reactions by hydrogen abstraction and by hydroperoxide decomposition reactions that lead to the formation of free radicals. Prooxidative metal reactivity is inhibited by chelators. Chelators that exhibit antioxidative properties inhibit metal-catalyzed reactions by one or more of the following mechanims prevention of metal redox cycling occupation of all metal coordination sites thus inhibiting transfer of electrons formation of insoluble metal complexes stearic hinderance of interactions between metals and oxidizable substrates (e.g., peroxides). The prooxidative/antioxidative properties of a chelator can often be dependent on both metal and chelator concentrations. For instance, ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) can be prooxidative when EDTAiiron ratios are <1 and antioxidative when EDTAiiron is >1. The prooxidant activity of some metal-chelator complexes is due to the ability of the chelator to increase metal solubility and/or increase the ease by which the metal can redox cycle. 

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