Promotion of the formation of phenylalanine-thymine cross-linked products by free radicals formed during carbon tetrachloride activation with benzoyl peroxide in model systems. A mass spectrometric structural study.

Reaction mixtures containing phenylalanine methyl ester and thymine in pure carbon tetrachloride in the presence of benzoyl peroxide produced trichloromethyl and trichloromethylperoxyl free radicals which via hydrogen abstraction reactions sparked the formation of phenylalanine-thymine adducts, whose structures were elucidated by mass spectrometry. If similar type of reaction occurred under biological conditions, significant deleterious consequences might be anticipated.