ESR evidence for the oxidative cleavage of gentisic acid in basic aqueous solution.

The oxidative cleavage of 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid (gentisic acid), presumably into maleylpyruvate in basic aqueous solution has been shown by ESR spectra of semiquinonic radicals bearing a methylenic group. One of these radicals has been unambiguously attributed to 2,4,5-trihydroxyphenylacetic acid semiquinonic radical. The formation of an hydroxylated homogentisic acid from gentisic acid (a metabolite of aspirin) is of particular importance in the treatment of alkaptonuria and related inflammatory arthritis.