| Abstract: | Application of Ethoxyquin for the Quality Preservation of Plant Products The use of the antioxidant ethoxyquin in plant products leads to ethoxyquin residues and many degradation and reaction products. The compound M1, probably a primary reaction product, was identified as 1,1′,2,2′-tetrahydro-2,2,2′,2′,4,4′-hexamethyl-6,6′-diethoxy-1,8′-biquinoline by means of UV, IR and 1H-NMR spectroscopy and by mass spectrometry. Two other degradation products were found to be oligomeric or polymeric compounds which, beside the ethoxyquin monomer, also contained structural elements formed by oxidative ring cleavage of the heterocycle. The predominating reaction, however, is the covalent binding of ethoxyquin to lignin. Regarding the mechanism of action of ethoxyquin, these studies have shown that ethoxyquin acts not only as a radical scavenger, but that it also binds oxygen by varying reactions. |
