Modulation of the antioxidant activity of phenols by non-covalent interactions

摘要: Non-covalent (H-bonding) interactions, either intramolecular or with the surrounding medium, have a major influence on activity of natural and synthetic phenolic antioxidants, due to modulation their reactivity radical species, such as peroxyl radicals. Different cases can be distinguished. (i) Intra- inter-molecular H-bonding involving reactive –OH moiety will depress antioxidant if acts H-bond donor, while opposite generally occur it acceptor. (ii) Remote intra- H-bonding, distant group (in polyphenols) ring substituent, may increase decrease an toward free radicals, depending whether stabilization produced by increases decreases along reaction coordinate, proceeding from reactants transition state. In this Perspective, role non-covalent interactions in complex chemistry polyphenolic antioxidants is discussed aid literature data simplified model compounds, aiming at composition clear picture that might guide future research.