Abstract

Quinone methides (QMs) are reactive intermediates involved in a large number of chemical and biological processes such as enzyme inhibition, DNA alkylation and cross-linking. Their electrophilicity towards amines, thiols, water, amino acids and peptides has been kinetically measured in aqueous solution. The alkylation process is often thermally and photochemically reversible and the resulting adducts may act as QM carriers.

Keywords: quinone methide electrophilicity, dna alkylation and enzyme inhibition