The Nitrite-Scavenging Properties of Catechol, Resorcinol, and Hydroquinone: A Comparative Study on Their Nitration and Nitrosation Reactions.

The nitration and nitrosation reactions of catechol, resorcinol, and hydroquinone (0.05 mmol/L) with sodium nitrite (0.05 mmol/L) at pH 3 and 37 °C were studied by using liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and atom charge analysis, which was aimed to provide chemical insight into the nitrite-scavenging behavior of polyphenols. The 3 benzenediols showed different mechanisms to scavenge nitrite due to their differences in hydroxyl position. Catechol was nitrated with 1 NO2 group at the hydroxyl oxygen, and resorcinol was nitrosated with 2 NO groups at the C2 and C4 (or C6 ) positions of the benzene ring. Hydroquinone could scavenge nitrite through both nitration and nitrosation mechanisms. The nitrated hydroquinone had 1 NO2 group at the hydroxyl oxygen in the molecule, while the nitrosated 1 containing 2 NO groups at the benzene ring might have 3 structure probabilities. The results may provide a structure-activity understanding on the nitrite-scavenging property of polyphenols, so as to promote their application in the food industry for the removal of possibly toxic nitrites found in many vegetables and often in processed meat products.