Formation of a TBA Reaction Product from Crown Ether in the Presence of KO₂

Abstract

Potassium superoxide (KO₂), which can be dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide containing crown ether, has been used as a source of O₂^-• for superoxide reaction systems. We have found that crown ether reacts with thiobarbituric acid (TBA) in the presence of KO₂ to form a red pigment, which is a well-known reaction product of lipoperoxide.