Determination of hydroxylated aromatic compounds produced via superoxide-dependent formation of hydroxyl radicals by liquid chromatography/electrochemistry

Hydroxyl radicals may be formed in a xanthine oxidase/hypoxanthine system, where the superoxide anion radical O-.2 and H2O2 are produced. The superoxide-dependent production of the OH. radicals may be monitored by determining the amount of hydroxylated aromatic compounds formed in such a system. Liquid chromatography/electrochemistry is a powerful tool for the determination of hydroxylated aromatic compounds. A technique is presented in which aniline and phenol are hydroxylated in xanthine oxidase/hypoxanthine incubations. No sample derivatization is needed for the determinations which can be accomplished by direct injection of the incubation mixture. Detection limits for 1,2- and 1,4-hydroxylated compounds are in the picomole range.