Abstract
Rate constants, kArOH/dpph\u2022,s, for hydrogen atom abstraction from 13 hindered and nonhindered phenols by the diphenylpicrylhydrazyl radical, dpph\u2022, have been determined in n-heptane and a number of alcoholic and nonalcoholic, hydrogen-bond accepting solvents. Abnormally enhanced values of kArOH/dpph\u2022,s have been observed in alcohols. It is proposed that this is due to partial ionization of the phenols and a very fast electron transfer from phenoxide anion to dpph\u2022. The popular assessment of the antioxidant activities of phenols with dpph\u2022 in alcohol solvents will generally lead to an overestimation of their activities.Peer reviewed: YesNRC publication: Ye