Abstract
Hydroperoxides are of great importance in the fields of atmospheric and biological chemistry. However, there are several analytical challenges in their analysis: unknown and usually low UV absorption coefficients, high reactivity, thermal instability, and a lack of available reference standards. To overcome these limitations, we propose a GC-FID approach involving pre-column silylation and quantification via the effective carbon number approach. Four hydroperoxides of α-pinene were synthesized in the liquid phase with singlet oxygen and identified using literature data on isomer yield distribution, MS spectra, estimated boiling temperatures of each isomer (retention time), their thermal stability and derivatisation rate. The developed procedure was used for the determination of hydroperoxides in bottled and autooxidised turpentine. We anticipate that this method could also be applied in atmospheric chemistry, where the reactivity of singlet oxygen could help explain the high formation rates of secondary organic aerosols.
Highlights
Organic hydroperoxides are used industrially as radical initiators, bleaching agents, and disinfectants
Hydroperoxides (HPs) are formed in nature as primary oxidation products of volatile organic compounds, for example, α-pinene, which is emitted from coniferous trees
We present the first GCFID method for the quantification of all four α-pinene hydroperoxides formed in a reaction with α-pinene
Summary
Organic hydroperoxides are used industrially as radical initiators, bleaching agents, and disinfectants. They are formed in the process of oxidative ageing, which they simultaneously promote by radical chain reactions. Hydroperoxides (HPs) are formed in nature as primary oxidation products of volatile organic compounds, for example, α-pinene, which is emitted from coniferous trees. This compound is the most abundant monoterpene in the air and plays an essential role in the growth of atmospheric particles.[3] It is present in essential oils and in various types of cosmetic and cleaning products. The most likely major haptens in turpentine are Δ3-carene hydroperoxide and oxidation products of α- and β-pinene.[5]
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