| Abstract: | A model study using 2,2,5,7,8-pentamethyl-6-hydroxychroman (α-COH) and 2,2,7,8-tetramethyl-6-hydroxychroman (γ-COH) as antioxidants, and linoleic acid and its methyl ester (both in bulk phase) as the lipids was performed. After having demonstrated that the antioxidative activities of the model substances did agree with those of the corresponding tocopherols (α-T, γ-T), the stability of α-COH and γ-COH was determined, and the products arising from α-COH, γ-COH, linoleic acid and its methyl ester were identified. α-COH did oxidize to different major products (quinone, trimer) depending on the reaction temperature (37°C and 47°C) and the antioxidant concentration, whereas the products obtained by oxidation of γ-COH (diphenyl ether dimer, biphenyl dimer) did not seem to be affected by differences in the reaction conditions. It was concluded that γ-T was superior to α-T as antioxidant because it appears more stable and, also, being oxidized to compounds which are still effective as antioxidants. |
