Styrene oxidation to styrene oxide by hydroxyl radicals produced during reaction of xanthine with xanthine oxidase in the presence of Fe3+.

Styrene was oxidized to styrene oxide during reaction of xanthine (X) with xanthine oxidase (XO) in the presence of Fe3+. This reaction showed a dose-dependent requirement of iron and was inhibited by superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase, indicating that both the superoxide anion and H2O2 were essential. Styrene oxide production was inhibited by hydroxyl radical scavengers indicating that this reactive oxygen intermediate could be the proximal oxidant involved in styrene oxidation to styrene oxide.