The oxidative activity of some organophosphorous compounds.

Organophosphorous compounds are widely used as biologically active agents. Two well-known pesticides belong to this group: dibutyl 1-butylamino-1cyclohexanephosphonate (DBBC) and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) [1, 2]. Their oxidative properties were studied and compared with those of diethyl 9-butylamino-9-fluorenephosphonate (DEBF). All these compounds also interact with biological and model membranes [3]. Erythrocyte ghosts used in oxidation studies were treated with 10-10 M concentrations of these compounds for 2h. The degree of lipid peroxidation was determined spectrophotometrically by measuring the malonic dialdehyde concentration in the samples, using its colour reaction with thiobarbituric acid. Two different series of experiments were performed; with and without the application of UV radiation. In the latter case, lipid peroxidation was observed, and DBBC exhibited slightly better oxidative activity than 2,4-D and DEBF. Neither oxidative nor antioxidative activity of the compounds studied were found when the lipid peroxidation in the erythrocyte membranes was induced by UV irradiation.