THERMODYNAMICALLY INVESTIGATIONS OF FREE RADICAL SCAVENGER POTENCY OF 1,2,4-TRIHYDROXYTHIOXANTHONE

The operative mechanism of the antioxidative action of 1,2,4-trihydroxythioxanthone (TX) is investigated in this contribution. Conclusions are made based on enthalpy values, as thermodynamical parameters. All calculations are done using the M06-2X/6-311++G(d,p) level of theory. To imitate polar and non-polar environments, calculations are done in water and benzene as the medium. It is found that, among three possible radicals that TX can generate, the most stable is the one obtained by homolytic cleavage of the O-H group in position 4. It was found that HAT (Hydrogen Atom Transfer) is the most plausible mechanism for that purpose in benzene. On the other hand, the most favorable mechanism in water is SPLET (Sequential Proton Loss Electron Transfer). Here is estimated the capacity of TX to deactivate hydroxyl (HO●), hydroperoxyl (HOO●) and methylperoxyl radical (CH3OO●). It is found that TX can deactivate all three free radicals following HAT and SPLET reaction mechanisms competitively, in the polar and non-polar environment. SET-PT (Single-Electron Transfer followed by Proton Transfer) is the inoperative mechanism for radicals scavenging, in the polar and non-polar environment.