The formation of hydrogen carriers by haematin-catalyzed peroxidations. 1. Hydrogen carriers from certain acridine and quinoline compounds

Abstract

Cytochrome c and methemoglobin catalyze in vitro the oxidation by H2O2 of certain amino- and hydroxy-acridines and quinolines. The oxidized products are H carriers which efficiently promote the autooxidation of ascorbic acid or cysteine. The oxidized forms of the carriers appear, in the case of the amino compounds, to be o-quinonimines and, in the case of hydroxy compounds, o-quinones. The mechanism of the formation and action of the carriers is discussed.