ON THE MECHANISM OF QUENCHING OF SINGLET OXYGEN IN SOLUTION

Abstract— Bimolecular rate constants for the quenching of singlet oxygen O*₂(¹Δ_g), have been obtained for several transition-metal complexes and for β-carotene. Laser photolysis experiments of aerated solutions, in which triplet anthracene is produced and quenched by oxygen, yielding singlet oxygen which then sensitizes absorption due to triplet carotene, firmly establishes diffusion-controlled energy transfer from singlet oxygen as the quenching mechanism in the case of β-carotene. The efficient quenching of singlet oxygen by two trans-planar Schiff-base Ni(II) complexes, which have low-lying triplet ligand-field states, most probably also occurs as a result of electronic energy transfer, since an analogous Pd(II) complex and ferrocene, which both have lowest-lying triplet states at higher energies than the O*₂(¹Δ_g), state, quench much less effectively.     

RATE PARAMETERS FOR THE QUENCHING OF SINGLET OXYGEN BY WATER-SOLUBLE AND LIPID-SOLUBLE SUBSTRATES IN AQUEOUS AND MICELLAR SYSTEMS

Abstract— The laser flash photolysis method has been used to determine the bimolecular rate constants for the reaction between O₂(¹Δ₉) and several lipid-soluble and water-soluble substrates. Values for lipid-soluble substrates have been obtained using aqueous dispersions of surfactants above the critical micelle concentration with 1,3 diphenylisobenzofuran as monitor of singlet oxygen. Under these conditions the hydrophobic substances are solubilized by the micellar phase. For substrates which are water-soluble, 9,10-anthracene dipropionic acid disodium salt was used as singlet oxygen monitor. For several substances, the values obtained are comparable to the values found in homogeneous nonaqueous solutions. In cases where significant differences have been found these have been rationalized according to the individual case. The only major unexpected result concerned β-carotene which, in micellar dispersion, failed to react at all with O₂(¹Δ₉) This may be due to multi-molecular aggregations occurring in the polar medium. The work described herein shows clearly that, under appropriate conditions, singlet oxygen kinetics can be effectively followed in aqueous solutions by time resolved methods. The indiscriminate use of β-carotene as a quencher of O₂(¹Δ₉)in mainly aqueous media is questioned.     

A MORE EXACT THEORETICAL INTERPRETATION OF RECENT EXPERIMENTAL DATA OBTAINED USING THE SEPARATED SENSITIZER AND SUBSTRATE METHOD TO INVESTIGATE O2(lδg) INTERACTIONS. POSSIBLE IMPORTANCE OF O2(1σg+)

Abstract— Recent experimental data obtained using the separated sensitizer and substrate method to investigate the interaction of O₂(¹δ_g) with various substances has been re-interpreted by means of a more complete theory. Comparison of experimental and recalculated values of the dependence of relative reaction rates on the sensitizer-substrate separation indicate general accord for experiments in which singlet oxygen acceptors in aqueous solution were used. The presumption is therefore that singlet molecular oxygen O₂(¹δ_g) is indeed the active oxidizing agent and that the theory presented and experiment are entirely in agreement.
For experiments in which bacterial targets were used a very distinct disagreement between theory and experiment is evident, the conclusion being that the kill rate does not depend linearly on the O₂(¹δ_g) concentration in the immediate proximity of the bacteria. However, the data is consistent with a quadratic dependence on the ¹δ_g concentration. A possible conclusion therefore is that the cytotoxic species is actually O₂(¹σ⁺_g), formed by an energy pooling reaction involving two O₂(¹δ_g) molecules.     

ON THE QUENCHING OF SINGLET OXYGEN BY α-TOCOPHEROL

Abstract —D-α-tocopherol was found to be an effective quencher of ¹O₂ molecules ( k = 2.5 times 10⁸→mol^-1 s^-1 in pyridine) by measuring its effect on the autosensitized photooxidation of rubrene. The quenching process was shown to be almost entirely 'physical', that is, α-tocopherol deactivated about 120 ¹O₂ molecules before being destroyed. The results suggest that this process may be a mechanism for the protective effect of α - tocopherol in photodynamic action.     

POLYMER BOUND PYRROLE COMPOUNDS–VI. PHOTOPHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF MONOMERIC MODELS FOR POLYSTYRENE-BOUND PORPHYRINS

Abstract— Several porphyrin esters used as models for polystyrene-bound porphyrins have been prepared and their excited states have been studied by laser flash photolysis, IR phosphorescence of singlet molecular oxygen, O₂(¹Δ_g), and steady-state fluorescence. The photophysical properties of the porphyrin esters in solution are affected by the presence of nitro group(s) in the chain. In this case, an important decrease in φ_f, φ_T and φ_δ (to ca 0.7–0.4 of the value for the parent dimethyl ester) is observed. This is mainly due to intramolecular electron-transfer quenching [by the nitro group(s)] of the first excited singlet state of the porphyrin. The thermodynamic feasibility of this deactivation pathway has been confirmed polarographically. Quenching of the porphyrin triplet state and of O₂(¹Δ_g) by the nitro groups is negligible. The present conclusions explain also the results obtained previously for the photooxidation of bilirubin sensitized by the parent insoluble polystyrene-bound porphyrins. In that case the photooxidation rates were correlated directly with the quantum yield of O₂(¹Δ_g) production by the sensitizer. The consequences of these results for the use of polystyrene-bound porphyrins in sensitized photooxidation processes are discussed.     

POTENTIAL PHOTOSENSITIZERS FOR PHOTODYNAMIC TUMOR THERAPY—I. PHOTOPHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF TWO CHLORIN DERIVATIVES

Abstract— Photophysical properties of two chlorin type molecules (CHLI) and (CHLII) were investigated in different solvents. Quantum yields of fluorescence φ_F of S, → T, intersystem crossing φ_T, and of singlet oxygen (¹Δ_g) formation φ_Δ, as well as the Stern-Volmer constants for the quenching of the S, states by oxygen and the bimolecular rate constants of quenching of ¹Δ_g by the chlorins were measured. The values of φ_T and φ_Λ can be given as 0.57 and 0.58 for CHLI and 0.69 and 0.58 for CHLII. The values of the fluorescence quantum yields, the strong absorption of the chlorins in the red (Λ > 630 nm) and the high values of the quantum yields for ¹Δ_g formation recommend the chlorin derivatives as potential markers and photosensitizers for tumor therapy.     

CALCULATED RATES AND EQUILIBRIA OF THERMAL INTERCONVERSION OF TRIPLET (3g-) AND SINGLET (1Δg and g+) MOLECULAR OXYGEN

Abstract— From spectroscopic data and rate constants in the literature, equilibrium constants and rates of thermal formation of singlet oxygen (¹Δ_g and ¹Σ_g⁺) were calculated for a number of conditions. For the gas phase we estimate K _eq(¹Δ_g³Σ_g^-) = 1.67 exp(-94.31 KJ/RT) and K _eq(¹Σ_g⁺/³Σ_g^-) = 0.33 exp(-157.0 KJ/RT). The calculated rate constants for the ³Σ_g⁺→¹Δ_g transition of O₂ at 25°C varied from 2.5 × 10^-11 s^-1 in water to 4.8 × 10^-16 s^-1 in air, assuming equal solvent interactions with the ground and excited states. Physical quenchers for singlet oxygen are expected to be catalysts for its thermal formation. Equations are presented which allow one to estimate whether such catalysis by quenchers will result in a pro-oxidant effect.     

EFFECT OF AGGREGATION ON THE HEMATOPORPHYRIN-SENSITIZED PRODUCTION OF SINGLET MOLECULAR OXYGEN

Abstract— The hematoporphyrin-sensitized production of singlet molecular oxygen, O₂(¹Δ_g), has been investigated in methanol and in aqueous solution. The quantum yield for formation of O₂(¹Δ_g) (Φ_Δ) has been measured by both steady-state (oxygen consumption) and time-resolved (near-infrared luminescence) methods. In methanol, both techniques indicate that Φ_Δ= 0.76 and the value remains independent of sensitizer concentration over a wide range. This finding is consistent with the dye persisting in a monomelic form in methanol solution. In contrast, Φ_Δ decreases markedly with increasing sensitizer concentration in water due to dimerization of the dye. Analysis of the steady-state data indicates Φ_Δ values of 0.74 and 0.12, respectively, for monomer and dimer. It is further shown that the efficiency whereby quenching of the triplet state by O₂ results in generation of O₂(¹Δ_g) is substantially lower for the dimer than for the corresponding monomer. Because monomer and dimer possess quite different absorption spectral profiles, the efficacy for photodynamic action with hematoporphyrin exhibits a pronounced wavelength dependence.     

THE QUENCHING OF SINGLET OXYGEN BY AMINO ACIDS AND PROTEINS

Abstract— The physical quenching of singlet molecular oxygen (¹Δ_g) by amino acids and proteins in D₂O solution has been measured by their inhibition of the rate of singlet oxygen oxidation of the bilirubin anion. Steady-state singlet oxygen concentrations are produced by irradiating the oxygenated solution with the 1–06 μm output of a Nd-YAG laser, which absorbs directly in the electronic transition ¹Δ_g+ 1 v →³Σ_g^-. The rate of quenching by most of the proteins studied is approximated by the sum of the quenching rates of their amino acids histidine, tryptophan and methionine, which implies that these amino acids in the protein structure are all about equally accessible to the singlet oxygen. The quenching constants differ from those obtained by the ruby-laser methylene-blue-photosensitized method of generating singlet oxygen, or from the results of steady-state methylene-blue-photosensitized oxidation, where singlet oxygen is assumed to be the main reactive species. The singlet oxygen quenching rates in D₂O, pD 8, are (10⁷ℒ mol^-1 s^-1): alanine 0–2, methionine 3, tryptophan 9, histidine 17, carbonic anhydrase 85, lysozyme 150, superoxide dismutase 260, aposuperoxide dismutase 250.     

Effect of Magnesium and Calcium Complexation on the Photochemical Properties of Norfloxacin

Abstract— The fluoroquinolone antibiotics can induce skin photosensitivity in some patients and this has been ascribed to the generation of reactive oxygen species, such as singlet oxygen (O₂[¹Δ_g]). We have studied the photochemical properties of the different ionized forms of the fluoroquinolone norfloxacin upon complexation with Mg²+ and Ca²+ ions, as it is proposed that the antibiotic exists mainly as a complex in the blood plasma. We found that the norfloxacin cation (pH < 6) shows no photodegradation after UVA irradiation and has a low quantum yield of O₂(¹Δ_g) generation. The norfloxacin cation does not complex. Ca²+ or Mg²+ ions; when these ions are added to the solution, we observed no changes in the fluorescence quantum yields (φ_flu) and singlet oxygen yields (φ_Δ). In contrast, the neutral (6 ± pH > 8.5) and anionic (pH > 9) forms of norfloxacin are able to complex calcium and magnesium, and their generation of O₂ (¹Δ_g) is decreased by complexation. The neutral zwitterionic form and the anionic form also quench singlet oxygen by both chemical and physical pathways regardless of complex formation, while physical quenching is observed for the cation. At pH > 7.4, norfloxacin photobleaches and complexation to Ca²+ and Mg²+ increases the rate at which photobleaching occurs. Thus, both the pH of the medium and complexation with metal cations may affect the phototoxic potential of this antibiotic.     

Singlet-Oxygen Generation from Liposomes: A Comparison of 6β-Cholesterol Hydroperoxide Formation with Predictions from a One-Dimensional Model of Singlet-Oxygen Diffusion and Quenching

Abstract— We measured 6β-cholesterol hydroperoxide (6β-CHP), a specific singlet-oxygen (O₂(δg)) product, during irradiation of unilamellar dimyristoyl 1-α-phosphatidylcholine liposomes containing cholesterol and zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPC). The effects of liposome size, the hydrophobic (O₂(¹δ_g)) quencher, β-carotene, and hydrophilic O₂(¹δ_g) quenchers upon the amount of 6β-CHP formed were determined and interpreted in terms of a one dimensional model of ₂(¹δ_g) quenching and diffusion. The model correctly predicted (1) that the amount of 6β-CHP was increased with increasing liposome size, (2) that P-carotene was more effective at reducing 6β-CHP formation in 400 nm diameter liposomes than 100 nm diameter liposomes and (3) that the hydrophilic quencher, water, was also more effective in large liposomes than in small liposomes.
The hydrophobic quencher, β-carotene, was more effective at reducing the formation of 6β-CHP than at reducing the 1270 nm O₂(¹δ_g) emission. This difference was found to be due to the size distribution present in the liposome preparations because the difference between the 6β-CHP data and the 1270 nm emission data was much smaller in liposome preparations with a narrow size distribution. When a significant size distribution was present, the 6β-CHP data were weighted more heavily with large-diameter liposomes, while the 1270 nm emission data were weighted more heavily with small-diameter liposomes.     

OXODIPYRROMETHENES AS REACTIVE SINGLET OXYGEN ACCEPTORS. MEASUREMENT OF THEIR CHEMICAL REACTION RATES BY A LASER FLASH PHOTOLYSIS TECHNIQUE

Abstract— Singlet oxygen has been generated directly in 1,1,2-trichloro, 1,2,2-trifluoroethane solution by irradiation of the oxygen dimol 2³∑-_g→2¹δ_g transition with a pulsed dye laser and the ³∑_g^-→¹δ_g+ lv transition with a continuous Nd-YAG laser. The rates of chemical reaction and physical quenching of singlet oxygen so generated has been measured for a series of substituted oxodipyrro-methenes. The results show that the oxodipyrromethenes react with singlet oxygen at rates comparable to that for 1,3-diphenylisobenzofuran. The rate of quenching of singlet oxygen by ground state oxygen has been measured to be 2.5±0.3 × 10³ M^-l s^-1.     

TIME RESOLVED STUDIES OF 1.27 μm LUMINESCENCE FROM SINGLET OXYGEN GENERATED IN HOMOGENEOUS and MICROHETEROGENEOUS FLUIDS

-The luminescence at 1.27 μm from the ³→→¹δ_g transition of the oxygen molecule has been detected from a variety of liquid systems. A Q-switched laser delivering pulses of 532 nm light was the excitation source, a germanium photodiode was the detector and substituted porphyrins were used as photosensitizers. Protio- and deutero- forms of several solvents were studied and the singlet oxygen lifetimes determined directly agreed well with published values. T_δ in D₂O was found to be 55 μs and, by extrapolation from a series of H₂O - D₂O mixtures, a value of 3.3 μs was obtained for T_δ in H₂O. The technique was shown to be useful in measuring T_δ values in several microheterogeneous systems such as surfactant micelles, vesicles and human serum albumin.     

ACTIVATED OXYGEN: SINGLET MOLECULAR OXYGEN AND SUPEROXIDE ANION

Abstract— Elusive processes associated with molecular oxygen in chemical and biological systems are interpreted in terms of two activated oxygen species, singlet molecular oxygen (¹Σ⁺_g/¹Δ_g) and superoxide anion (X²π_g). The generation and deactivation of singlet oxygen by interaction with organic triplet states are discussed within a comprehensive theoretical framework. Experimental results indicate the anomalous molecular oxygen enhanced luminescence from organic chromophores in polymer matrices results from the deactivation of singlet (¹Δ_g) oxygen by energy transfer to electronically excited states of the chromophore, and three types of oxygen enhanced luminescence have been identified in these systems. Properties of the superoxide anion relevant to its solution chemistry are briefly discussed. Electron transfer theory is used to theoretically examine the generation of singlet oxygen in disproportionation reactions of the superoxide anion, predicting that, depending on the number of water molecules present, the disproportionation reaction is a proficient source of singlet oxygen. A competing quenching process imposes a limit to the steady state concentration of singlet oxygen in most chemical systems. Available experimental results on the quenching of singlet oxygen by superoxide anion are in good agreement with theoretical results obtained via application of electron transfer theory.     

THE INFLUENCE OF MOLECULAR CONFORMATION ON THE STABILITY OF ULTRAVIOLET STABILIZERS TOWARD DIRECT AND DYE-SENSITIZED PHOTOIRRADIATION: THE CASE OF 2-(2'-HYDROXY-5'-METHYPHENYL)BENZOTRIAZOLE (TIN P)

Abstract— The mechanism for photodegradation of the ultraviolet photostabilizer 2-(2'-hydroxy-5'-methylphenyl)benzotriazole (TIN P) upon direct and dye-sensitized (singlet molecular oxygen [O₂(1Δ_g)]-mediated) irradiation was studied. From the experimental TIN P photodegradation rate data, and low temperature (77 K) fluorescence and phosphorescence quantum yields, one can conclude that the photodegradative process involves phosphorescent states of TIN P. The open conformer of TIN P quenches O₂(¹Δ_g) by physical scavenging with a rate constant (k_q) in dimethylsulfoxide of 2.8 times 10⁶ M ^-1 s^-1. The intramolecular hydrogen-bonded conformer does not appreciably interact with O₂(¹Δ_g). In the presence of a relatively high concentration of OH- (either 5 times 10^-2 M KOH in ethanol or water at pH 13), the ionic form of TIN P (with an ionized phenol group) physically and chemically quenches O₂(¹Δ_g). The reaction rate constant ( k _r) is 1 times 10 ⁸ M ^-1 s^-1, and the ratio k _q/ k _r is approximately three in alkaline aqueous media.     

THE ABSOLUTE VALUE OF THE REACTION RATE CONSTANT OF BILIRUBIN WITH SINGLET OXYGEN IN D2O

Abstract— The chemical reaction rate constant of bilirubin with singlet oxygen in basic aqueous solution has been redetermined to be 3.5 × 10⁸ M^-1 s^-1 by a competitive technique using a 1,3-diphenylisobenzofuran in sodium dodecyl sulfate micelles. Bilirubin also physically quenches a singlet oxygen with a rate constant of 9 × 10⁸ M ^-1 s^-1. The lifetime of singlet oxygen in D₂O solution has been determined to be 35 μ s . The absorption cross-section for the molecular oxygen ³∑_g-→¹δ _g + 1 v electronic transition at 1.06μn in aqueous solution is unexpectedly larger than the gas paase cross-section.     

THE IN VITRO PHOTOCHEMISTRY OF BIOLOGICAL MOLECULES—II. THE TRIPLET STATES OF β-CAROTENE AND LYCOPENE EXCITED BY PULSE RADIOLYSIS

Abstract— –Pulse radiolysis has been used to excite the triplet states of β-carotene (τ# 9μ sec) and lycopene (τ= 8μsec) in hexane solution, both in the presence and absence of naphthalene as a triplet sensitiser. The absorption spectra of both triplets have been measured in the range 430–550 nm and have thus been extended into the region of the corresponding singlet absorptions. The overlap of the triplet and singlet spectra is discussed in relation to in vivo studies. Extinction coefficients of 1.3±0.1 × 10⁵ l/mole cm for β-carotene triplet 515 nm and 3.9±0.2 × 10⁵ l/mole cm for lycopene triplet at 525 nm were obtained. Isomerisation of the all- trans polyenes used was detected and preliminary measurements indicate that the yield of isomerisation was greater than the triplet yield. The rate of triplet energy transfer from naphthalene to β-carotene was estimated to be 1.5 × 10¹⁰ l/mole sec. The corresponding value for lycopene was 1.4× 10¹⁰ l/mole sec. The measured efficient quenching of triplet β-carotene by oxygen may occur by an energy transfer mechanism, leading to the formation of singlet oxygen (¹Δ_g. This would suggest that the triplet energy level of β-carotene lies between 121 and 94 kJ mole^-1.     

CHEMILUMINESCENCE AND THE FORMATION OF SINGLET OXYGEN IN THE OXIDATION OF CERTAIN POLYPHENOLS AND QUINONES

Abstract— The possibility of ¹O₂ (¹Δ_g) participation in the oxidation of polyphenols and quinones has been investigated in two systems: (1) the system involving autooxidation leading to oxidative polymerization and destruction, and (2) the modified Trautz-Schorigin reaction, i.e. oxidation of polyphenols and HCHO with H₂O₂ in concentrated alkaline solutions. The red band with maximum at 635 nm observed in chemiluminescence of pyrocatechol, adrenaline, pyrogallol, gallic acid, adrenochrome and p -benzoquinone corresponds to the transition 2O₂(¹Δ_g) → 2O₂(³Σ^-_g). Emission bands in the range 475–540 nm arise from the superposition of the 2O₂(¹Δ_g) → 2O₂(³Σ^-_g) transition and radiative deactivation of excited oxidation products. In system (2) chemiluminescence has a broad band from 580 nm beyond 800 nm and much higher intensity than in system (1). Formaldehyde was found to enhance light emission in system (1) by a factor of about 30. The influence of solvents, including D₂O in which ¹O₂ has varying lifetimes, on kinetics of chemiluminescence as well as quenching effect of β-carotene, hydroquinone, cysteine, bilirubin and biliverdin strongly support the involvement of ¹O₂ in the chemiluminescence of both systems.     

PHOTODYNAMIC INACTIVATION OF E. COLI BY ROSE BENGAL IMMOBILIZED ON POLYSTYRENE BEADS

Abstract. The photodynamic inactivation of E. coli by visible light and O₂ was found to occur in the presence of the sensitizer rose bengal, immobilized by covalent bonding to polystyrene beads. The demonstrated absence of significant amounts of dissolved rose bengal indicated that an inactivation mechanism based on penetration of sensitizer molecules into the cell's interior could not be operating. Survival curves typically exhibited induction periods followed by rapid exponential death, with 99.99% kill requiring 1–2 h depending on conditions. A mechanism involving the participation of photo-generated singlet excited oxygen O₂(¹δ) in inactivation of E. coli is proposed. The photodynamic inactivation rate increased significantly in H₂O compared with H₂O, which is evidence supporting singlet oxygen as an active intermediate, since O₂(¹δ) has a much longer lifetime in H₂O than in H₂O. H₂O did not act as a short term poison in the absence of sensitizer.     

STEROL METABOLISM. XLII. ON THE INTERCEPTION OF SINGLET MOLECULAR OXYGEN BY STEROLS

Abstract— The use of cyclic 1,3-dienes and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons as xenobiotic substrates for the interception of electronically excited (singlet) molecular oxygen (¹O₂) in biological systems is reviewed and criticized, and the possibility of utilization of reactive endogenous substrates for ¹O₂ interception is considered. The common sterols, cholesterol, 5α-cholest-7-en-3β-ol, and 5α-lanost-8-en-3β-ol each give oxidation products with ¹O₂ different from those with ground-state molecular oxygen that can be distinguished from one another by simple chromatographic means.