8-METHYLETHOXYQUIN - A POSSIBLE REPLACEMENT FOR ETHOXYQUIN

When acting as an antioxidant, ethoxyquin is converted mainly to a 1,8 '-dimer and to a quinone-imine, with the latter itself acting as a pow erful antioxidant. The 8-methyl derivative of ethoxyquin was prepared in the expectation that this would not form a dimer but more quinone-i mine and, therefore, be a more powerful antioxidant. On oxidation of 8 -methylethoxyquin, the dimer was absent and the quinone-imine was form ed in high yield. Despite this, 8-methylethoxyquin was a less efficien t antioxidant than ethoxyquin in fish oil and meal.