AAPH is a water-soluble azo compound which is used extensively as a free radical generator, often in the study of lipid peroxidation and the characterization of antioxidants.[1],[2],[3],[4] Decomposition of AAPH produces molecular nitrogen and 2 carbon radicals. The carbon radicals may combine to produce stable products or react with molecular oxygen to give peroxyl radicals. The half-life of AAPH is about 175 hours (37°C at neutral pH), making the rate of free radical generation essentially constant during the first several hours in solution.[5] While AAPH may be used effectively for lipid peroxidation in aqueous dispersions of fatty acids, other radical generators may be better suited for peroxidation studies in lipid micelles or membranes.[6],[7]
