Ozonation of Selected Molecules Constituting Cellular Matter

Abstract

Abstract Ozonation of purine and pyrimidine bases and of carbohydrates was studies in laboratory experiments. The results showed that nucleobases are much more reactive with molecular ozone in aqueous solution than carbohydrates. Second order rate constants for direct reaction of ozone on purines (adenine and guanine) and on pyrimidines (cytosine, thymine and uracil) ranged from 0.76 × 103 to 6.8 × 103 M-1s-1at 2°C. The difference of reactivity between these solutes may be attributed to their substituents. As far as carbohydrates are concerned, direct reactions of ozone are very slow k03 ≍ 0.1 – 0.3 M-1s-1 at 20°C, and the results indicated that free radical reactions are predominant in the degradation pathway of carbohydrates by ozone. Some ozonation by-products of monosaccharides (glucose, xylose) and disaccharides (cellobiose) also were identified in this study by means of GC/MS analyses. Key Words: OzonePurinePyrimidineNucleobasesCarbohydratesKinetic Studies of OzonationRate ConstantsOzonation Byproducts