A Systematic Topological Picture of ROS Scavenging Activity via Formal Hydrogen Atom Transfer in Phenols and Polyphenols

High Resolution Image Download MS PowerPoint Slide In this work, we employ a systematic quantitative computational approach to study the scavenging activity via formal hydrogen atom transfer (f-HAT) of a series of phenolic compounds. The most common features present in natural polyphenols are included to analyze their effect in the reactivity with radicals. All molecules are classified according to the analyzed effect: aromaticity size (class A), number and position of multiple hydroxyl (OH) groups (class B), and type and position of various substituents inspired by natural systems (classes C–E). The analysis also includes the corresponding anions for systems with p K a values that permit deprotonation under physiological conditions. Finally, all the identified criteria for selecting effective polyphenolic antioxidants are validated in real systems, such as anthocyanidins, providing insightful tools for drug design.