Data underlying the publication: Polymeric organochloride mediated oxidation of thioethers initiated by ionizing radiation

Irradiating aqueous solutions containing organochlorides generates peroxyl radicals by reactions of organochlorides, aqueous electrons and dissolved oxygen, and the radical can oxidize thioethers to sulfoxides. However, the application of small molecular organochlorides in anti-cancer therapy is limited since they can induce liver damage. In this chapter we show that organochlorides bound to a polymer chain behave similar to small molecular organochlorides, when the polymer was fully dissolved in aqueous solution. The oxidation was significantly inhibited if the polymeric organochloride self-assembled in micelles. We hypothesize that aqueous electrons are scavenged by dissolved oxygen before they could diffuse into the hydrophobic core containing the organochloride groups. Nevertheless, our work shows that using polymeric organochlorides can be an alternative to small organochlorides provided that they are easily accessible to aqueous electrons.