Propagation reactions, autoxidation linoleic acid

Figure 10.7 Autoxidation of a linoleic acid ester. In step 1 the reaction is initiated by the attack of a radical on one of the hydrogen atoms of the -CH2-group between the two double bonds this hydrogen abstraction produces a radical that is a resonance hybrid. In step 2 this radical reacts with oxygen in the first of two chain-propagating steps to produce an oxygen-containing radical, which in step 3 can abstract a hydrogen from another molecule of the linoleic ester (Lin-H). The result of this second chain-propagating step is the formation of a hydroperoxide and a radical (Lin ) that can bring about a repetition of step 2.

---