The photolability of hydroxamic acids and its importance to the human environment

Abstract

Many xenobiotic and natural substances present in the natural environment undergo photochemical reactions which may result in the production of compounds more toxic than the starting components. One group of such substances is the hydroxamic acids. This review summarizes the structures, reactions, photochemistry and applications of hydroxamic acids, with particular emphasis on environmental aspects. The photochemistry of acyclic hydroxamic acids is shown to involve the generation of reactive acyl aminoxyl radical intermediates which may have biological consequences such as reactions with DNA. Thus, photoactivation of the carcinogenic properties of some hydroxamic acids present in the human environment can be expected.