Products and Stoichiometry of Reaction of Vitamin E with Alkylperoxy Radicals

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/jo00177a021

Oxidation of vitamin E (α-tocopherol, E) at 50 deg C in acetonitrile and hexane by alkylperoxy radicals gives up to 50percent yield of the 4-(alkylperoxy)cyclohexadienone derived from combination of RO2* and E radicals; this product rapidly hydrolyzes to tocopherylquinone.E consumes two RO2* radicals, and kinetic studies indicate that the rate constant for RO2 + E -> RO2H + E is greater than 2*1E5 M^-1 s^-1.