Evidence for Hydroxyl Radical Generation During Lipid (Linoleate) Peroxidation

The autoxidation of methyl linoleate in benzene at 37 °C by peroxyl radicals was found to generate hydroxyl radicals (•OH) from a secondary oxidation mechanism. The yield of hydroxyl radicals (∼2%) was determined by trapping these reactive radicals with benzene to give phenol. We propose that αC−H hydrogen abstraction from lipid hydroperoxides, the main autoxidation products, is the source of hydroxyl radicals.