A novel mitochondria-targeted antioxidant (TPP-OH) was synthesized by attaching the natural hydrophilic antioxidant caffeic acid to an aliphatic lipophilic carbon chain containing a triphenylphosphonium (TPP) cation. This compound has similar antioxidant activity to caffeic acid as demonstrated by measurement of DPPH/ABTS radical quenching and redox potentials, but is significantly more hydrophobic than its precursor as indicated by the relative partition coefficients. The antioxidant activity of both compounds was intrinsic related to the ortho-catechol system, as the methoxylation of the phenolic functions, namely in TPP-OCH(3) and dimethoxycinnamic acid, gave compounds with negligible antioxidant action. The incorporation of the lipophilic TPP cation to form TTP-OH and TPP-OCH(3) allowed the cinnamic derivatives to accumulate within mitochondria in a process driven by the membrane potential. However, only TPP-OH was an effective antioxidant: TPP-OH protected cells against H(2)O(2) and linoleic acid hydroperoxide-induced oxidative stress. As mitochondrial oxidative damage is associated with a number of clinical disorders, TPP-OH may be a useful lead that could be added to the family of mitochondria-targeted antioxidants that can decrease mitochondrial oxidative damage.