Radicals generated in autoxidized methyl linoleate by light irradiation

The structure of free radicals generated in the autoxidation of methyl linoleate (ML) was studied by the spin trapping technique using deuterated nitrosodurene, (CD₃)₄C₆HNO, as the spin trap. The secondary alkyl radicals were trapped after irradiation of ML with UV light. The formation rate of secondary alkyl radicals increased upon shortening the wavelength of irradiation light and was closely correlated with the peroxide value of autoxidized ML when a UV light longer than 250 nm was employed. When hydroperoxides separated from autoxidized ML were added to ML, the relationship between the formation rate of secondary alkyl radicals and the amounts of added hydroperoxides was nearly linear. These results suggest that secondary alkyl radicals are generated by proton abstraction of the active radicals, such as RO and HO, which are produced by the photolysis of hydroperoxides with UV light. The spin trapping technique can be applied to the study of lipid oxidation and/or photolysis of autoxidized lipid.