Determination of hydrocarbon oxidation mechanisms by the analysis of the hydroperoxide isomeric structure

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K15464
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 38050:Food sciences-related
• Research Institution: Tohoku University
• Principal Investigator: Kato Shunji 東北大学, 農学研究科, 助教 (60766385)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 酸化 / 質量分析 / 抗酸化 / カチオンーπ電子相互作用 / ラジカル酸化 / 一重項酸素酸化 / 光酸化

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Of oxidized hydrocarbon structures, the hydroperoxyl group position is important information that provides the detail about its oxidation mechanisms. While we previously reported mass spectrometric methods using Na+ for the highly selective determination of hydroperoxyl group positions, nothing was known except for the fact that sodiated hydroperoxide provides specific fragment ions. Thus, this study　firstly investigated the mechanisms that sodiated hydroperoxide provides specific fragment ions, assuming its further application to analysis of other complex oxidized hydrocarbons. And then, this method was appllied to the analysis of oxidized saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons which were oxidized by thermal and photo oxidation. Moreover, since a novel photo oxidation was observed, the mechaism was investigated.

Free Research Field

分析化学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

「酸化」は我々の身の周りの有機物（脂質や炭化水素など）に生じ、劣化や物性変化をもたらす重要な化学反応である。例えば食品脂質の酸化は品質の低下を引き起こし、化粧品や香料、医薬品脂質の酸化は重篤な副作用や使用期限の短縮をもたらす。また、潤滑剤や燃料に含まれる脂質や炭化水素の酸化はエンジンなどの劣化を引き起こす。以上のように「酸化」による健康被害や経済的損失は極めて大きいと言える。
本研究によって得られる技術・知見によって様々な有機物の酸化原因を推定可能になると期待される。上述のように、これら有機物の酸化機構を理解し、真の抗酸化法を検討する医学的・経済的意義は極めて大きい。