Mutagenic peroxides in diethyl ether.

Concentration of water-saturated commercial samples of diethyl ether by a stream of nitrogen yielded an aqueous residue mutagenic in S. typhimurium strains TA100 and TA102, but not TA1535. Reverse phase high-performance liquid chromatography resolved the mixture into 4 UV absorbing peaks, each of which was positive for peroxide and mutagenic in strain TA100 and TA102. One of these was identified as H2O2 based on HPLC retention time and sensitivity to decomposition by catalase, and another as 1-ethoxyethylhydroperoxide, based on its 1H-NMR spectrum. The mutagenic peroxides appeared to be stable in water between pH 3 and 6, but unstable above pH 7; they were less stable in methanol, acetonitrile, and least stable in chloroform, in which they partially decomposed after 24 h at 20 degrees C. Generalization of the results suggests that adverse effects observed in vitro and in vivo with chemicals containing ether linkages that actually have been caused by contaminant peroxides and reactive oxygen compounds.