“…Given that the computed rates of H-atom abstraction from, and peroxyl radical addition to, chol were similar, we wondered whether tunneling in the HAT pathway is responsible for the predominance of hydroperoxides over epoxides in cholesterol autoxidations. Expecting this to be revealed by a large kinetic isotope effect (KIE) on the HAT, we synthesized 2,2,4,4,7,7- d 6 -cholesterol ( 9 , 2,2,4,4,7,7- d 6 -chol) by the method of Fujimoto et al and carried out autoxidations analogous to those described above. Amazingly, the product distribution observed in the 2,2,4,4,7,7- d 6 -chol autoxidations was completely inverted compared to that observed in the chol autoxidations, such that the epoxides accounted for over 75% of the product mixture.…”