Interrelation between the Inhibiting Properties and the Activity of Phenoxy Radicals of Antioxidants Different in Structure

Efficiency of the inhibiting action of phenol-based antioxidants (AO) was studied in initiated oxidation of methyl oleate (MO). The following AO were examined: hydroxybenzene (I), tyrosol (4-2-hydroxyethylphenol) (II), 2-tert-butyltyrosol (III), 2,6-di-tert-butyltyrosol (IV), 4-3-hydroxypropylphenol (V), 2,6-di-tert-butylphenol (VI), dibunol (2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol) (VII), and -tocopherol (VIII). The rate constants k₇ determining the activity of AO in the reaction with peroxide radicals were equal to (0.94, 0.97, 0.93, 0.75, 0.92, 1.30, and 360.00) × 10⁴ M^-1 s^-1 for compounds II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, respectively. For inhibitors II-VI, VIII, the dependence of the induction period on the AO concentration was of an extreme character, and the most efficient concentrations of AO (C_max) were equal to (0.7, 1.0, 1.6, 1.0, 1.1, and 2.5) × 10^-3 M, respectively. The efficiency of inhibitors (_max and C_max) was demonstrated to rise with increasing extent of shielding of the OH group and shortening of the chain of a substituent in the para position. Using the stationary photolysis method, the rate constants of disproportionation (k₉) of phenoxy radicals of inhibitors I, III, VII, and VIII were evaluated and equal to (0.52, 2.38, 3.40, and 0.94) × 10³ M^-1 s^-1, respectively, at 20°C. It was shown that the k₉ value depended on the extent of shielding of phenoxy radicals. The rate constants (k_{10, eff}) were determined for the reaction of phenoxy radicals with lipids with various extents of unsaturation: MO, linoleic and arachidonic acids. The values of k_{10, eff} for the reaction of phenoxy radicals of I, III, VII, and VIII with linoleic acid (20°C) were equal to (0.69, 0.48, 0.09, and 0.49) × 10² M^-1 s^-1, respectively. It was found that in MO oxidation, the k_{10, eff} values decreased in proportion to the number of ortho-tert-butyl substituents in an AO molecule. For the reactions of phenoxy radicals of inhibitor VII with MO, linoleic and arachidonic acids, the values of k_{10, eff} increased with the number of double bonds in a substrate and were equal to (0.09 ± 0.01, 0.09 ± 0.01, and 0.64 ± 0.04) × 10² M^-1 s^-1, respectively. The k_{10, eff} rate constants for the reaction of phenoxy radicals of compound VIII with the same lipids were equal to (0.20 ± 0.04, 0.49 ± 0.01, and 0.74 ± 0.12) × 10² M^-1 s^-1, respectively.