Characterization of Mercury – Humic Acids Interaction by Potentiometric Titration with a Modified Carbon Paste Mercury Sensor

Stability constant for mercury binding by commercial and natural humic acids (HA) were determined using a new potentiometric mercury(II) sensor based on dithiosalicylic acid modified carbon paste electrode. The sensor present a high selective and sensitive response to mercury(II) ions, and a low detection limit of 1.8×10^?8 M. The potentiometric titrations curves of humic acids against mercury(II) ions were modeled. For 1.00×10^?7 to 3.00×10^?4 M mercury(II) ion concentration levels the results are consistent with the presence of two different binding sites in the humic acid macromolecule. The strongest binding sites (log K₁ ranging from 10.1 to 6.8) are probably due to interaction with carboxylic acid and amine groups in the molecule, whereas weakest binding sites (log K₂ ranging from 8.8 to 4.5) can be associated to phenolic groups.     

Interaction of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Moringa oleifera</Emphasis> seed lectin with humic acid

The aim of this work was to characterise the affinity of protein preparations from Moringa oleifera seeds, specifically extract (seeds homogenised with 0.15 M NaCl), fraction (extract precipitated with 390 mg mL⁻¹ of ammonium sulphate) and cMoL (coagulant M. oleifera lectin) to bind humic acids using a haemagglutinating activity assay with rabbit erythrocytes and a radial diffusion assay in agarose gel. Specific haemagglutinating activity (SHA) decreased by 94 % for the extract and cMoL and by 50 % for the fraction in the presence of humic acid. Precipitation bands were observed in the diffusion gel. Both results suggested humic acid-cMoL binding. Carbohydrates, potassium, and calcium ions and pH affected the SHA of cMoL. As an example of application, cMoL was immobilised on a column packed with sepharose receiving 20 mg mL⁻¹ of carbon humic acid solution, 30 mg of humic acid per gram of support was removed. This result suggested that protein preparations might be used in water treatment to remove humic acids.     

Separation of HIV‐1 gag virus‐like particles from vesicular particles impurities by hydroxyl‐functionalized monoliths

The downstream processing of enveloped virus‐like particles is very challenging because of the biophysical and structural similarity between correctly assembled particles and contaminating vesicular particles present in the feedstock. We used hydroxyl‐functionalized polymethacrylate monoliths, providing hydrophobic and electrostatic binding contributions, for the purification of HIV‐1 gag virus‐like particles. The clarified culture supernatant was conditioned with ammonium sulfate and after membrane filtration loaded onto a 1 mL monolith. The binding capacity was 2 × 10¹²/mL monolith and was only limited by the pressure drop. By applying either a linear or a step gradient elution, to decrease the ammonium sulfate concentration, the majority of double‐stranded DNA (88–90%) and host cell protein impurities (39–61%) could be removed while the particles could be separated into two fractions. Proteomic analysis and evaluation of the p24 concentration showed that one fraction contained majority of the HIV‐1 gag and the other fraction was less contaminated with proteins originated from intracellular compartments. We were able to process up to 92 bed volumes of conditioned loading material within 3 h and eluted in average 7.3 × 10¹¹ particles per particle fraction, which is equivalent to 730 vaccination doses of 1 × 10⁹ particles.     

Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectral characterization of metal‐humic binding

The interaction between metals and naturally occurring humic substances and the thereby induced issues of bioavailability and hydrogeochemical turnover of metal ions in natural waters have been the subject of intense study for decades. Traditional bulk techniques to investigate metal‐humic binding (e.g. potentiometry and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP‐MS)) can provide quantitative results for the relative abundance and distribution of metal species in humic samples and/or overall binding constants. The shortcoming of these bulk techniques is the absence of structural detail. Ultra‐high‐resolution mass spectrometry, currently the only technique demonstrated to resolve individual humic ions, is not generally employed to provide the missing qualitative information primarily because the identification of metal complexes within the already complex mixtures of humic substances is non‐trivial and time‐consuming to the extent of eliminating any possibility for real‐time manipulation of chelated analytes. Here, it is demonstrated that with tailored selection of the metal ion, it is possible to visually identify large numbers of metal‐humic complexes (～500 for Be²⁺, ～1100 for Mn²⁺, and ～1500 for Cr³⁺) in real‐time as the spectra are being acquired. Metal ions are chosen so that they form primarily even‐m/z complexes with humic ions. These even‐m/z complexes stand out in the spectrum and can readily be characterized based on molecular formulae, which here revealed for example that Suwannee River fulvic acid (SRFA) complexes encompassed primarily highly oxygenated fulvic acids of relatively low double‐bond equivalence. Facile, real‐time identification of even‐m/z metal‐humic complexes additionally allows for the specific selection of metal‐humic complexes for MSⁿ analysis and in‐trap ion‐neutral reactions enabling investigation of metal‐humic complex structure. MS/MS data were collected to demonstrate the potential of the technique as well as highlight some of the remaining challenges. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

OH‐Initiated Photooxidations of 1‐Pentene and 2‐Methyl‐2‐propen‐1‐ol: Mechanism and Yields of the Primary Carbonyl Products

The products of the gas‐phase reactions of OH radicals with 1‐pentene and 2‐methyl‐2‐propen‐1‐ol (221MPO) at T=298±2 K and atmospheric pressure were investigated by using a 4500 L atmospheric simulation chamber that was built especially for this work. The molar yield of butyraldehyde was 0.74±0.12 mol for the reaction of 1‐pentene. This work provides the first product molar yield determination of formaldehyde (0.82±0.12 mol), 1‐hydroxypropan‐2‐one (0.84±0.13 mol), and methacrolein (0.078±0.012 mol) from the reaction of 221MPO with OH radicals. The mechanism of this reaction is discussed in relation to the experimental results. Additionally, taking into consideration the complex mechanism, the rate coefficients of the reactions of OH with formaldehyde, 1‐hydroxypropan‐2‐one, and methacrolein were derived at atmospheric pressure and T=298±2 K.; the obtained values were (8.9±1.6)×10^?12, (2.4±1.4)×10^?12, and (22.9±2.3)×10^?12 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, respectively.     

Matrix Effects in Determination of Triazines and Atrazine Metabolite in Waters with Solid‐Phase Extraction Followed by High Performance Liquid Chromatography Coupled with Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Abstract

A method for determination of selected triazines in waters was developed. The method includes off‐line solid‐phase extraction of triazines on the polymeric sorbent, high‐pressure liquid chromatographic separation, and determination with tandem mass spectrometer. The linearity extended from 0.008 to 1.000 µg L^?1 for each triazine while the limits of detection ranged from 0.001 to 0.004 µg L^?1. Solid‐phase extraction recoveries from ground, surface, and waste waters ranged from 64% to 96%. Possible water interferences were investigated. Natural humic acids and salts did not influence the ionization process. The presence of humic acids did not affect binding ability of the solid‐phase sorbent, while the presence of salts increased the extraction efficiency by approximately 10%.     

Influence of Pb(II) on the radical properties of humic substances and model compounds

The influence of Pb(II) ions on the properties of the free radicals formed in humic acids and fulvic acids was investigated by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. It is shown that, in both humic acid and fulvic acid, Pb(II) ions shift the radical formation equilibrium by increasing the concentration of stable radicals. Moreover, in both humic acid and fulvic acid, Pb(II) ions cause a characteristic lowering of the stable radicals' g-values to g = 2.0010, which is below the free electron g-value. This effect is unique for Pb ions and is not observed with other dications. Gallic acid (3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoic acid) and tannic acid are shown to be appropriate models for the free radical properties, i.e., g-values, Pb effect, pH dependence, of humic and fulvic acid, respectively. On the basis of density functional theory calculations for the model system (gallic acid-Pb), the observed characteristic g-value reduction upon Pb binding is attributed to the delocalization of the unpaired spin density onto the Pb atom. The present data reveal a novel environmental role of Pb(II) ions on the formation and stabilization of free radicals in natural organic matter.     

H‐atom abstraction from selected C?H bonds in 2,3‐dimethylpentanal, 1,4‐cyclohexadiene,and 1,3,5‐cycloheptatriene

The gas‐phase reactions of OH radicals with 1,4‐cyclohexadiene, 1,3,5‐cycloheptatriene, and 2,3‐dimethylpentanal have been investigated to determine the importance of H‐atom abstraction at specific positions in these molecules. Benzene was observed as a product of the reaction of OH radicals with 1,4‐cyclohexadiene in 12.5 ± 1.2% yield, in good agreement with a previous study and indicating that this is the fraction of the reaction proceeding by H‐atom abstraction from the allylic C? H bonds. In contrast, no formation of tropone from 1,3,5‐cycloheptatriene was observed, suggesting that in this case H‐atom abstraction is not important. For the reaction of OH radicals with 2,3‐dimethylpentanal, formation of 3‐methyl‐2‐pentanone was observed in 5.4 ± 1.0% yield (after correction for reaction of 3‐methyl‐2‐pentanone with OH radicals), and this product is predicted to be formed after initial H‐atom abstraction from the 2‐position CH group. Acetaldehyde and 2‐butanone were also observed as products, with initial yields of ～90% and ～26%, respectively, and their formation appeared to involve, at least in part, an intermediary acyl peroxy radical. Using a relative rate method, the measured rate constants for the reactions of OH radicals with 2,3‐dimethylpentanal, 3‐methyl‐2‐pentanone, and tropone are (in units of 10^?12 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1) 2,3‐dimethylpentanal, 42 ± 7; 3‐methyl‐2‐pentanone, 6.87 ± 0.08; and tropone, 42 ± 6. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 35: 415–426, 2003     

Photoinduced Degradation of the Herbicide Clomazone Model Reactions for Natural and Technical Systems

The photodegradation of the herbicide clomazone in the presence of S₂O₈^2? or of humic substances of different origin was investigated. A value of (9.4 ± 0.4) × 10⁸ m ^?1 s^?1 was measured for the bimolecular rate constant for the reaction of sulfate radicals with clomazone in flash‐photolysis experiments. Steady state photolysis of peroxydisulfate, leading to the formation of the sulfate radicals, in the presence of clomazone was shown to be an efficient photodegradation method of the herbicide. This is a relevant result regarding the in situ chemical oxidation procedures involving peroxydisulfate as the oxidant. The main reaction products are 2‐chlorobenzylalcohol and 2‐chlorobenzaldehyde. The degradation kinetics of clomazone was also studied under steady state conditions induced by photolysis of Aldrich humic acid or a vermicompost extract (VCE). The results indicate that singlet oxygen is the main species responsible for clomazone degradation. The quantum yield of O₂(a¹Δ_g) generation (λ = 400 nm) for the VCE in D₂O, Φ_Δ = (1.3 ± 0.1) × 10^?3, was determined by measuring the O₂(a¹Δ_g) phosphorescence at 1270 nm. The value of the overall quenching constant of O₂(a¹Δ_g) by clomazone was found to be (5.7 ± 0.3) × 10⁷ m ^?1 s^?1 in D₂O. The bimolecular rate constant for the reaction of clomazone with singlet oxygen was k_r = (5.4 ± 0.1) × 10⁷ m ^?1 s^?1, which means that the quenching process is mainly reactive.     

Radical heterogeneous polymerization behavior of N‐methyl‐α‐fluoroacrylamide in benzene

The polymerization of N‐methyl‐α‐fluoroacrylamide (NMFAm) initiated with dimethyl 2,2′‐azobisisobutyrate (MAIB) in benzene was studied kinetically and with electron spin resonance. The polymerization proceeded heterogeneously with the highly efficient formation of long‐lived poly(NMFAm) radicals. The overall activation energy of the polymerization was 111 kJ/mol. The polymerization rate (R_p) at 50 °C is given by R_p = k[MAIB]^0.75±0.05 [NMFAm]^0.44±0.05. The concentration of the long‐lived polymer radical increased linearly with time. The formation rate (R_p?) of the long‐lived polymer radical at 50 °C is expressed by R_p? = k[MAIB]^1.0±0.1 [NMFAm]^0±0.1. The overall activation energy of the long‐lived radical formation was 128 kJ/mol, which agreed with the energy of initiation (129 kJ/mol), which was separately estimated. A comparison of R_p? with the initiation rate led to the conclusion that 1‐methoxycarbonyl‐1‐methylethyl radicals (primary radicals from MAIB), escaping from the solvent cage, were quantitatively converted into the long‐lived poly(NMFAm) radicals. Thus, this polymerization involves completely unimolecular termination due to polymer radical occlusion. ¹H NMR‐determined tacticities of resulting poly(NMFAm) were estimated to be rr = 0.34, mr = 0.48, and mm = 0.18. The copolymerization of NMFAm(M₁) and St(M₂) with MAIB at 50 °C in benzene gave monomer reactivity ratios of r₁ = 0.61 and r₂ = 1.79. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 39: 2196–2205, 2001     

Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) studies on stable and transient radicals in humic acids from compost, soil, peat and brown coal

Quantitative EPR method was applied to characterise four types of humic acids (HA) derived from composts, soil, peat and soft brown coal. For each sample of HA the level of native (indigenous) radicals was estimated. Interactions of the HA with various gaseous agents and organic solvents were investigated. Strong effects of gaseous ammonia and aliphatic amines on spin concentration enhancement were observed; additionally, higher values of g-value were found to be associated with the formed 'transient' radicals. Correlation of copper(II) ions uptake by different HA with effect diminishing primary spin concentration was established. It was recognised that the radical centres, which are enhanced by 'ammonia effect' are quenched in the formed HA-Cu(II) complexes. The both opposite effects are competitive from each other, where 'copper(II) quenching effect' prevails. Reaction of nitrogen dioxide with the humic acids was also examined. The presence of diketones and/or other compounds with active methylene group results in formation of the iminoxy radicals; these radicals are immobilized in the solid (macromolecular) matrix of the humic acids.     

Conformational changes in humic acids in aqueous solutions

Conformational changes in humic acids in two different aqueous solutions (NaCl and NaOH) are studied by means of high resolution ultrasound spectrometry. The method is based on the measurement of parameters of ultrasonic waves propagating through the sample. The attenuation describes the decay of the amplitude of the ultrasonic wave with the distance travelled. The velocity is the speed of this wave and is related to the wavelength and the frequency of oscillation of the deformation. It is determined by the density and elasticity of the sample, which is strongly influenced by the molecular arrangement. The minimal velocity of ultrasound was observed at 1 g dm^?3 for lignitic humic acids and at 0.5 g dm^?3 for IHSS Leonardite standard. The values of compressibility as computed are almost constant up to humic acids?? content corresponding to the minimum velocity of ultrasound and then decrease with the increase in concentration. This shows that the organisation of particles in diluted and concentrated humic acids sols is different. The decrease in compressibility points to the formation of a more rigid structure, which could lead to the decrease in humic acids?? binding ability. It was confirmed that the method employed was very sensitive and could be utilised as an indicator of conformational changes in humic acids in solutions with varying concentrations.     

Antiferromagnetic Interactions in 1D Heisenberg Linear Chains of 7‐(4‐Fluorophenyl) and 7‐Phenyl‐Substituted 1,3‐Diphenyl‐1,4‐dihydro‐ 1,2,4‐benzotriazin‐4‐yl Radicals

7‐(4‐Fluorophenyl) and 7‐phenyl‐substituted 1,3‐diphenyl‐1,4‐dihydro‐1,2,4‐benzotriazin‐4‐yl radicals were characterized by X‐ray diffraction analysis and variable‐temperature magnetic susceptibility studies. The radicals pack in 1D π stacks of equally spaced slipped radicals with interplanar distances of 3.59 and 3.67 Å and longitudinal angles of 40.97 and 43.47°, respectively. Magnetic‐susceptibility studies showed that both radicals exhibit antiferromagnetic interactions. Fitting the magnetic data revealed that the behavior is consistent with 1D regular linear antiferromagnetic chain with J=?12.9 cm^?1, zJ′=?0.4 cm^?1, g=2.0069 and J=?11.8 cm^?1, zJ′=?6.5 cm^?1, g=2.0071, respectively. Magnetic‐exchange interactions in benzotriazinyl radicals are sensitive to the degree of slippage, and inter‐radical separation and subtle changes in structure alter the fine balance between ferro‐ and antiferromagnetic interactions.     

Flow Injection Determination of Humic Acid with Chemiluminescence Detection

Abstract

A very sensitive and fast flow injection chemiluminescence method, based on the oxidation of humic acid (HA) by 1,3‐dibromine‐5,5‐dimethylhydantion in the presence of glycine in alkaline medium, was developed for the determination of trace humic acids in water. A wide calibration range from 0.001 to 1.0 µg mL^?1 was obtained at the optimized conditions and the detection limit was as low as 0.5 ng mL^?1 of humic acids. Most of the foreign substances tested showed relatively high tolerance levels and the proposed method was successfully applied to the determination of humic acid in river water and tap water.     

Binding constants of lead by humic and fulvic acids studied by anodic stripping square wave voltammetry

A better understanding of metal ion binding to soil organic substances is of fundamental importance in geochemical modeling of environments. Fulvic acids (FA) and humic acids (HA) make up an important part of soil organic matter, and their binding capacity affects the fate of metal ions and plays an important role in their mobility. Binding constants of Pb(II) to HA and FA were evaluated by anodic stripping square wave voltammetry (ASSWV) where the binding reaction was performed at pH 4.5 in a medium of 0.020 mol l⁻¹ KNO₃. Results showed that ASSWV technique was well suited for the estimation of the binding capacity of a natural organic matter towards heavy metals. Based on the voltammetric titration curves, binding constants of Pb(II) complexes formed with HA and FA were 0.78 × 10⁶ and 0.15 × 10⁶ mol⁻¹ l, which indicated that complex of Pb²⁺ with HA was more stable than with FA. The average molecular weight of HA and FA prepared from soil samples were also found to be 1821 g mol⁻¹ and 805 g mol⁻¹, respectively.     

Studies on some radical transfer reactions by entrapping the radicals as polymer end groups. II. Reactions of ȮH radicals with amino acids

The reaction of ?H radicals with a number of aliphatic amino acids has been studied by entrapping the resultant radicals as end groups of poly(methyl methacrylate) that have been detected and estimated by the sensitive dye partition technique. The rate constants of the reaction (in mol^?1 L S^?1) of 7 amino acids at 25°C and at pH 1.00 have been determined as 8.33 × 10⁸ for glycine, 2.56 × 10⁹ for β-alanine, 2.01 × 10⁹ for β-alanine, 3.99 × 10⁹ for 4-amino butyric acid, 7.56 × 10⁹ for (1+) valine, 1.42 × 10¹⁰ for (1?) leucine, and 5.98 × 10¹⁰ for 6-amino caproic acid. Glycine, α-alanine, β-alanine, and 4-amino butyric acid produced radicals that underwent deamination and incorporated only carboxyl-bearing end groups in the polymer. The other amino acids, leucine, valine, and 6-amino caproic acid, produced at least two types of radicals, radicals that underwent deamination and those that remained intact, and incorporated in the polymer both carboxyl- and amine-bearing end groups but in different amounts. The latter type of radicals were about 29% from 6-amino caproic acid, 23% from leucine, and 18% from valine. The change of pH from 0.80 to 2.72 did not produce any significant change in the end group profile of the polymer obtained, indicating no appreciable change in the rate of the reaction of ?H radicals with the simplest amino acid glycine in the pH range studied.     

A kinetic study of the reactions of sulfate and dihydrogen phosphate radicals with epicatechin,epicatechingallate, and epigalocatechingallate

The bimolecular rate constants for the reactions of sulfate radicals with epicatechin (EC), epicatechingallate (ECG), and epigallocatechingallate (EGCG) were found to be (1.46 ± 0.06) × 10⁹, (1.20 ± 0.08) × 10⁹, and (1.04 ± 0.07) × 10⁹, respectively. The activation energy [E_A = 9 ± 3 kJ mol^?1] and preexponential factor [A = (4.8 ± 0.6) × 10¹⁰] for the reaction of EC with the sulfate radical were measured in the temperature range 288–303 K. The phenoxyl radicals of EC (λ_max = 310 nm) were obtained both by the reaction of this flavonoid with the sulfate radicals and by photoionization. The measured bimolecular rate constants for the reactions of the dihydrogen phosphate radicals with EC, ECG, and EGCG were (7.8 ± 0.9) × 10⁸, (8.5 ± 0.4) × 10⁸, and (6.8 ± 0.4) × 10⁸, respectively. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 42: 391–396, 2010     

Generation of 8‐oxo‐7,8‐dihydroguanine in G‐Quadruplexes Models of Human Telomere Sequences by One‐electron Oxidation

The mechanistic aspects of one‐electron oxidation of G‐quadruplexes in the basket (Na⁺ ions) and hybrid (K⁺ ions) conformations were investigated by transient absorption laser kinetic spectroscopy and HPLC detection of the 8‐oxo‐7,8‐dihydroguanine (8‐oxoG) oxidation product. The photo‐induced one‐electron abstraction from G‐quadruplexes was initiated by sulfate radical anions (SO₄˙^?) derived from the photolysis of persulfate ions by 308 nm excimer laser pulses. In neutral aqueous solutions (pH 7.0), the transient absorbance of neutral guanine radicals, G(‐H)˙, is observed following the complete decay of SO₄˙^? radicals (~10 μs after the actinic laser flash). In both basket and hybrid conformations, the G(‐H)˙ decay is biphasic with one component decaying with a lifetime of ~0.1 ms, and the other with a lifetime of 20–30 ms. The fast decay component (~0.1 ms) in G‐quadruplexes is correlated with the formation of 8‐oxoG lesions. We propose that in G‐quadruplexes, G(‐H)˙ radicals retain radical cation character by sharing the N1‐proton with the O⁶‐atom of G in the [G˙⁺: G] Hoogsteen base pair; this [G(‐H)˙: H⁺G G˙⁺: G] leads to the hydration of G˙⁺ radical cation within the millisecond time domain, and is followed by the formation of the 8‐oxoG lesions.     

Photodecomposition of iodopentanes in air: Product distributions from the self‐reactions of n‐pentyl peroxyl radicals

Product distributions from the 254‐nm photooxidation of the three iodopentane isomers were explored as a technique for studying the self‐reactions of individual pentyl peroxyl radicals (in air at ambient temperature and pressure). Pentanols and the associated carbonyl compounds (pentanal or pentanones) were major products as expected. Other major products resulted from the isomerization of pentan‐1‐oxyl and pentan‐2‐oxyl radicals, but their nature could not be identified. Minor products were alcohols and carbonyl compounds arising from the decomposition of pentoxyl radicals. Diols and mixed hydroxycarbonyl compounds from cross‐combination reactions were essentially absent, in contrast to expectation. The observed product distributions were evaluated to derive branching ratios for the radical‐preserving pathways of the self‐reactions, 0.42 ±0.17, 0.46 ± 0.10, 0.39 ± 0.08, for pentan‐1‐yl peroxyl, pentan‐2‐yl peroxyl, and pentan‐3‐yl peroxyl, respectively. Rate coefficients derived for the decomposition of the corresponding pentoxyl radicals, relative to their reaction with oxygen, are (5.1 ± 0.5) × 10¹⁸, (1.0 ± 0.2) × 10¹⁸, and (3.2 ± 0.3) × 10¹⁸ molecule cm^?3, respectively. Rate constants for the isomerization of pentan‐1‐oxyl and pentan‐2‐oxyl were estimated from the contributions of isomerization products to the total amounts of products as (4.0 ± 1.1) × 10⁵ s^?1 and (1.0 ± 2.0) × 10⁵ s^?1, respectively. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 34: 126–138, 2002     

The Reaction of Sulfenic Acids with Peroxyl Radicals: Insights into the Radical‐Trapping Antioxidant Activity of Plant‐Derived Thiosulfinates

Sulfenic acids play a prominent role in biology as key participants in cellular signaling relating to redox homeostasis, in the formation of protein‐disulfide linkages, and as the central players in the fascinating organosulfur chemistry of the Allium species (e.g., garlic). Despite their relevance, direct measurements of their reaction kinetics have proven difficult owing to their high reactivity. Herein, we describe the results of hydrocarbon autoxidations inhibited by the persistent 9‐triptycenesulfenic acid, which yields a second order rate constant of 3.0×10⁶ M ^?1 s^?1 for its reaction with peroxyl radicals in PhCl at 30 °C. This rate constant drops 19‐fold in CH₃CN, and is subject to a significant primary deuterium kinetic isotope effect, k_H/k_D=6.1, supporting a formal H‐atom transfer (HAT) mechanism. Analogous autoxidations inhibited by the Allium‐derived (S)‐benzyl phenylmethanethiosulfinate and a corresponding deuterium‐labeled derivative unequivocally demonstrate the role of sulfenic acids in the radical‐trapping antioxidant activity of thiosulfinates, through the rate‐determining Cope elimination of phenylmethanesulfenic acid (k_H/k_D≈4.5) and its subsequent formal HAT reaction with peroxyl radicals (k_H/k_D≈3.5). The rate constant that we derived from these experiments for the reaction of phenylmethanesulfenic acid with peroxyl radicals was 2.8×10⁷ M ^?1 s^?1; a value 10‐fold larger than that we measured for the reaction of 9‐triptycenesulfenic acid with peroxyl radicals. We propose that whereas phenylmethanesulfenic acid can adopt the optimal syn geometry for a 5‐centre proton‐coupled electron‐transfer reaction with a peroxyl radical, the 9‐triptycenesulfenic is too sterically hindered, and undergoes the reaction instead through the less‐energetically favorable anti geometry, which is reminiscent of a conventional HAT.