A CIDEP and fluorescence study of the oxidation of vitamin E: the vitamin E radical cation

The photochemical and thermal oxidations of vitamin E in trifluoroacetic acid were investigated by the combination of electron spin resonance, chemically induced dynamic electron polarization, and fluorescence techniques. Two independent thermal pathways led to the formation of the vitamin E radical cation in which one of the paths involved the intermediate neutral semiquinone radical. Photo-oxidation, however, did not involve the neutral radicals. The fluorescence spectra of both the neutral and the charged forms of the vitamin E radicals are reported here for the first time. Some model charge transfer reactions involving the vitamin E radical cation were reported.