[Synthesis and properties of membrane-addressed antioxidants based on phosphorylated pyrocatechols]

Amphiphilic membrane-addressed antioxidants differing in their hydrophobic-hydrophilic balance, 3,5-di-tert-butyl-2-hydroxyphenyl phosphate, (3,5-di-tert-butyl-2-hydroxyphenyl)hexadecyl phosphate, and (3,5-di-tert-butyl-2-hydroxyphenyl)-5-cholesten-3 beta-yl phosphate, were synthesized starting from 3,5-di-tert-butyl-o-quinone. Even at 10(-8) M concentration, 3,5-di-tert-butyl-2-hydroxyphenyl phosphate and (3,5-di-tert-butyl-2-hydroxyphenyl)hexadecyl phosphate inhibit formation of malonic aldehyde during peroxidation of lipids from rat brain homogenate initiated with a Fe(2+)-ascorbate system. At 10(-4) M and higher concentrations of antioxidants in the brain homogenate, the formation of malonic aldehyde is inhibited more efficiently than with tocopherol at the same concentrations.