THE OXIDATIVE TRANSFORMATIONS OF (+)CATECHIN AND (-)EPICATECHIN AS STUDIED BY ESR. FORMATION OF HYDROXYCATECHINIC ACIDS.

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4020(01)88570-7

The alkaline air oxidation of (+)catechin and (-)epicatechin has been studied by ESR spectroscopy.Both compounds give rise to the anion radicals of 2'-hydroxycatechinic acid and 6'-hydroxycatechinic acid by way of a hydroxylation and a rearrangement reaction.The primary spectra of (+)catechin, catechinic acid and the intermediate radicals of 2'-hydroxy-(+)catechin and 6'-hydroxy-(+)catechin are observed and characterized by ESR.