Hydroperoxides of partially reduced quinoxalines, pteridines and (iso)alloxazines: Intermediates in oxidation processes

Abstract

Abstract Transient peroxides have now been found in the oxidation of condensed pyrazines. Tetrahydropteridines and dihydro(iso)alloxazines proved to have a catalytic effect on the nonenzymatic oxidation of other compounds. This could be explained by regarding the partially reduced condensed pyrazines as acceptors for molecular oxygen. A general structure has been proposed for hydroperoxides occurring as key‐intermediates. The new theory may provide a more complete explanation for some enzymatic oxidation proccesses like the enzymatic hydroxylation of phenylalanine to tyrosine.