REACTIVE OXYGEN SPECIES PRODUCED IN METAL-CATALYZED OXIDATION OF BIS(TRIFLUOROMETHYL)DISULFIDE AND PROTECTION BY ZE(TM)

Bis(trifluoromethyl)disulfide (TFD), used as an industrial fumigant, w as found to generate a thiyl free radical as seen by EPR/spin trapping . Oxygen appears to be an absolute requirement for radical production. The results obtained in this investigation implicate the production o f thiyl and reactive oxygen species (ROS), superoxide radical anion an d hydroxyl radicals, during TFD autoxidation. The rate of production o f these free radical intermediates was found to increase in the presen ce of iron(III) and copper(II). In addition, the metal ion chelator DE TAPAC and ROS scavengers ethanol, mannitol, and PEG-SOD/catalase were found to inhibit free radical production. Reactive oxygen species were not formed when a high-potency zinc plus antioxidant, ZE caps(TM), wa s present. These results provide support for the pro-oxidation of TFD and a protective role for zinc.