Degradation mediated OH radical generation from synthetic cyclic peroxides: ESR studies.

Hydroxy radical generation on thermal decomposition of synthetic cyclic peroxides was determined by ESR using DMPO as a spin-trapping reagent. Both the 6- and 7-membered cyclic peroxides, 4-alkoxy-2,3-benzo-dioxan-1-ols and 4-alkoxy-2,3-benzodioxepin-1-ols, respectively, which were synthesized according to our idea of a radical-releasing drug, gave rise to DMPO-OH signals on heat treatment, i.e. under their degradation conditions. The signals were completely abolished with higher concentrations of OH scavenger.