Evaluation of antioxidant activity and electronic structure of aspirin and paracetamol

We present a study of electronic structure, chemical bonding, and antioxidant activity of phenolic antioxidants (aspirin and paracetamol). X-ray photoelectron and emission spectra of the antioxidants have been simulated by deMon density functional theory (DFT) calculations of the molecules. The chemical bonding of aspirin is characterized by the formation of oxygen ‘lone-pair’ π-orbitals which can neutralize free radicals and thus be related to antioxidant properties of the drug. In the case of paracetamol the additional nitrogen ‘lone pair’ is formed which can explain toxicity of the drug. We propose an evaluation method of antioxidant activity based on the relationship between experimental half-wave oxidation potential (Ep/2) and calculated ionization potentials (IP) by the DFT calculations, and can conclude that paracetamol has the higher antioxidant activity than aspirin.