Developing antioxidants with high efficiency is fundamentally important for the protection of living cells and engineering materials against oxidative damage. In this present study, two azocalix[4]arene derivatives were synthesized via a diazo coupling reaction between calix[4]arene and diazonium salts. Their antiradical and antioxidative performances were evaluated by hydroxyl radical scavenging and pyrogallol autoxidation inhibition experiments. Combined with theoretical studies, the antiradical and antioxidative mechanisms have been explored. The results demonstrated that these two azocalix[4]arene derivatives both exhibited remarkable antiradical and antioxidative activity. The macrocyclic framework of the calix[4]arene and para-azo substituent group at the upper rim of calix[4]arene contributed synergistically and importantly to its excellent antiradical and antioxidant activity.
Keywords: antioxidant; antiradical; azocalix[4]arene; density functional theory; mechanism.