Absolute rate constants for the reaction of peroxyl radicals with cardanol derivatives

Industrial grade cardanol is a yellow oil containing mostly cardanol with smaller percentages of cardol and methylcardol, obtained by thermal treatment and subsequent distillation of cashew nut shell liquid available in large amounts in some developing countries. In order to find useful applications of this widely available and renewable raw material in fine chemical processes we undertook a kinetic investigation of the antioxidant activity of some hydrogenated cardanol and cardol derivatives, compared with that of analogous commercial products.