Oxygen primary carbohydrate radicals

Molecular oxygen adds to primary carbohydrate radicals" at a virtually diffusion-controlled rate, to give peroxyl radicals (see reaction... 

A considerable amount of recent work has focused on the oxidation of polymeric and monomeric carbohydrates in aqueous media. In the context of the biorefinery, these processes could be used for the preparation of oxidized carbohydrates as primary outputs of biomass deconstruction. Of particular interest are processes catalyzed with stable oxygen-centered radicals such as the nitroxyl radical TEMPO (2) (2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidi-noxyl) and using bleach as the stoichiometric oxidant. 

Oxygen radicals produce cellular dysfunction by reacting with lipids, proteins, carbohydrates, and DNA to extract electrons (summarized in Fig. 24.7). Evidence of free radical damage has been described in over 100 disease states. In some of these diseases, free radical damage is the primary cause of the disease in others, it enhances complications of the disease. 

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