Reactions of α-hydroxyethyl radicals with flavonoids of various structures

It has been found that flavonoids (FL) are able to reduce, add or oxidize α-hydroxyethyl radicals (HER). The probability of these processes to occur depends on the structure of the FL under study. Namely, to cause reduction of HER, the presence of hydroxyl groups is necessary, and to effect oxidation or addition of HER, the presence of a carbonyl group at C4 and a C2–C3 double bond in the C ring is required.