Early steps in the free radical polymerisation of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (dopa) into malanin

Abstract

Pulse radiolysis and flash photolysis-initiated one-electron oxidation of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (dopa) and other catecholamines have allowed the direct measurement of the kinetics of semiquinone disproportionation leading successively to the corresponding melanin precursors dopaquinones and dopachromes.