Chemistry of Superoxide Ion as Revealed by the Differential Oxidation of Arylpyruvates

Superoxide ion apparently reacts with acidic substrates via species such as O₂, HO₂, O, HO and H₂O₂. Arylpyruvates give arylacetates and arylaldehydes indicating competing nucleophilic and free radical oxidation. Benzaldehyde is further oxidized by free radical and nucleophilic dioxygen species giving benzoic acid. p-Hydroxybenzaldehyde gives the corresponding benzoic acid which is best accounted for by HO₂, since O and O₂ are without effect. Hydroquinone is also produced presumably by nucleophilic attack of HO. Replacement of the acidic hydrogen atoms by sodium changes the product distribution in accord with these findings.