IDENTIFICATION OF HYDROGEN-PEROXIDE AS THE AUTOXIDATION PRODUCT OF N-PHENYL-2-PROPYL-3,5-DIETHYL-1,2-DIHYDROPYRIDINE

Recently, dihydropyridines have been used as autoxidizable materials i n novel air-activated adhesives, The dihydropyridines react with air t o produce peroxide species, which are capable of initiating free radic al polymerization of methacrylates, It is proposed that N-phenyl-2-pro pyl-3,5-diethyl-1,2-dihydropyridine undergoes autoxidation in the pres ence of glacial acetic acid, yielding a pyridinium ion and an unknown peroxide product. Employing a variety of analytical techniques, includ ing polarography, spectrophotometry and an enzyme-based biosensor, it has been shown conclusively that hydrogen peroxide is generated in the autoxidation of this dihydropyridine. An aqueous extraction procedure was utilized to remove the hydrogen peroxide from an organic matrix a nd also to eliminate any interference from the dihydropyridine in the analysis procedure.