Free radical reactions of pyridoxal (vitamin B6): a pulse radiolysis study

Redox reactions of pyridoxal (P-OH) with e¯_aq, ^. OH, N ^. ₃, SO ^. ₄¯ and various organo-haloperoxyl radicals have been studied using pulse radiolysis technique. The rate constants for the reaction of P-OH or P-O¯ with the above-mentioned radicals and the transient absorption spectra have been measured. The transients formed in the reaction of hydrated electron and oxidizing radicals with pyridoxal have been assigned. An attempt has been made to find a correlation between the rate constants and Taft parameter for the reactions with the organo-haloperoxyl radicals. It has also been observed that the one-electron oxidized radical of pyridoxal is repaired by uric acid. The reduction potential for the P-OH ^.+/P-OH couple at pH 7, as measured by cyclic voltammetry, has been found to be +1.11 V vs. NHE.