Generation of hydroxyl radicals from polymer containing reducing sugar branches in the presence of hydrogen peroxide

The generation of hydroxyl radicals from poly(6-O-vinyladipoyl-D-glucose) [ poly(VAG)] in the presence of hydrogen peroxide was detected by oxidation o f p-nitrosodimethylaniline (p-NDA). Several hydroxyl radical scavengers inh ibited the reaction, but inhibition by superoxide dismutase (SOD) was low. This suggests that hydroxyl radicals from Harber-Weiss reaction made relati vely small contributions to this reaction, and that the enediol moiety of r educing sugar branches in poly(VAG) reacted with hydrogen peroxide to produ ce hydroxyl radicals. The polymer degraded to a low molecular weight materi al after reaction with hydrogen peroxide.