Cysteic acid is the chemical mediator of automotive clearcoat damage promoted by dragonfly eggs

The damage caused by dragonfly eggs on automotive clearcoats exposed to sunlight occurs by a chemical mechanism similar to that caused by acid rain. Cysteine and cystine residues present in dragonfly eggs are oxidized during the egg hardening process, which releases hydrogen peroxide, to a cysteic acid derivative, a strong acid capable to catalyze the hydrolysis of acrylo/melamine clearcoat polymer. Cysteic acid was indeed identified and quantified by ion-exchange HPLC in dragonfly egg extracts submitted to oxidation by H₂O₂ followed by acid digestion. Moreover, H₂O₂ concentration, temperature, and exposure time profiles of cysteic acid formation as well as an apparent activation energy for cysteine (in dragonfly eggs) oxidation to cysteic acid by H₂O₂ (32 ± 2 kJ/mol) were determined. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 81: 1549–1554, 2001