STEADY-STATE NEAR-INFRARED DETECTION OF SINGLET MOLECULAR OXYGEN: A STERN-VOLMER QUENCHING EXPERIMENT WITH SODIUM AZIDE

Abstract— A sensitive near-infrared detection system incorporating improvements to existing methodologies has been used to characterize the sodium azide quenching of the steady-state luminescence of singlet molecular oxygen at 1270 nm. Stern-Volmer plots which were linear up to 80% quenching of the ¹O₂ generated by rose bengal and eosin Y yielded a rate constant of 5.8 ± 0.1 times 10⁸ M ⁻¹ s⁻¹ for the quenching of ¹O₂ in water, while the rate constants obtained in deuterium oxide with the same sensitizers were 6.28 times 10⁸ M ⁻¹ s⁻¹ and 6.91 times 10⁸ M ⁻¹ s⁻¹ respectively. A flow system minimized the effects of photobleaching of the rose bengal. With a mercury arc light source, the instrument can be used in photosensitization experiments to detect low levels of ¹O₂ production in aqueous media.     

ON THE TRIPLET-TRIPLET ENERGY TRANSFER FROM CHLOROPHYLL TO CAROTENE IN TRITON X 100 MICELLES

Abstract— The kinetics of the triplet-triplet energy transfer of chlorophyll α (Cha) to β carotene (Car) has been investigated in Triton X100 micelles by 353 nm laser flash photolysis. This transfer consists of an intramicellar process involving pigment species located in the same micelle. A kinetic model using a bimolecular treatment leads to a rate constant of the energy transfer in the micellar phase ( k _tm≅ 6 × 10⁸ M ^-1 s^-1) lower than the previously determined values in homogeneous solvents ( k _t≅ 4.6 ≅ 10⁹ M ^-ls^-l); this result shows the high microviscosity of the micellar core. In addition, the apparent bimolecular rate constant ( k _t≅ 5.0 ≅ 10¹⁰ M ^-l s^-1) appears to be an order of magnitude higher than in homogeneous solvents. The lifetime of the carotene triplet state is the same in the hydrophobic core of Triton X100 micelles (τ a = 7.7 μs) as in organic solvents (hexane or carbon disulfide). The transfer yield is controlled by the distribution of chlorophyll and carotene molecules in the micelles.     

THE KINETICS OF REDUCTION OF CYTOCHROME c BY SEMI-REDUCED FLAVIN

Abstract— Flavin mononucleotide radicals, FMNH', generated by laser flash photolysis of FMN in the presence of the electron donors, histidine, guanosine monophosphate or EDTA, were found to reduce cytochrome c with an apparent rate constant of 6 ± 10⁷ M ⁻¹ s⁻¹. These flash photolysis results were, however, complicated by the electron donor radicals formed simultaneously which, particularly with EDTA, also lead to reduction of cytochrome c. Pulse radiolysis of a nitrous oxide saturated aqueous solution of FMN containing a high concentration of HCOONa, leads to the exclusive formation of FMNH'. By adding small concentrations of cytochrome c to this solution, a rate constant of 4.0 ± 10⁻¹ M ⁻¹ s⁻¹ was obtained for the reduction of cytochrome c by FMNH'. Replacement of the HCOONa by EDTA in such solutions leads to further routes for reduction of cytochrome c on radiolysis. as in the photolytic situation. The relevance of these results to flavin-photosensitised reduction of cytochrome c and other components of the mitochondrial electron transport chain is discussed.     

Ground-and Excited-State Characterization of an Electrostatic Complex between Tetrakis-(4-Sulfonatophenyl)porphyrin and 16-Pyrimidinium Crown-4

Abstract— We report the formation of an electrostatic complex between (16-pyrimidinium crown-4)tetranitrate (16PC4) and tetrakis-(4-sulfonatophenyl)porphyrin (4SP) in aqueous solution. Ground-state complex formation results in a red shift of the 4SP visible absorption bands and a decrease in absorbance of the Soret band. The equilibrium constant for complex formation (determined from optical titrations) is found to be (2.0 ± 0.2) × 10⁵ M ⁻¹. In addition, the data fit to an expression describing a 1:1 stoichiometry. Excitation of the complex results in quenching of both the excited singlet and triplet states of the associated porphyrin. The singlet-state lifetime decreases from 10 ns for the free porphyrin to 1.5 ns in the presence of 16PC4 at low solution ionic strengths. In addition, evidence is presented for triplet-state quenching within the complex with k _q= (1.1 ± 0.1) × 10⁴ s⁻¹. The mechanism of quenching is tentatively assigned to electron transfer from either the excited singlet or excited triplet state of the porphyrin to the ground state of the 16PC4.     

SYNTHESES AND PHOTOREDOX PROPERTIES OF POLYELECTROLYTES FUNCTIONALIZED WITH 5-DEAZAFLAVIN

Abstract— Anionic polyelectrolytes functionalized with the 5-deazaflavin group (dFl) were synthesized. The lifetime of the triplet excited dFl in the polyelectrolytes with a 2-mol% dFl content (AdFl-2) was about 10 times longer than that of a low molecular weight analog (AdFl-M). 2-Mercaptoethanol (RSH) reduced the triplet dFl with the rate constant of k _red= 2.01 × 10⁸ M ⁻¹ s⁻¹ for AdFl-M and k _red= 4.4 × 10⁷ M ⁻¹ s⁻¹ for AdFl-2. A zwitterionic viologen (SPV) oxidized the triplet dFl with the rate constant of k _red= 3.69 × 10⁹ M ⁻¹ s⁻¹ for AdFl-M and k _ox= 7.4 × 10⁸ M⁻¹ s⁻¹ for AdFl-2. The smaller rate constants for the polymer system were discussed in terms of the hindering effect of the macromolecular microenvironment. The back electron transfer was shown to be drastically slowed in the AdFl-2-SPV system as a result of the intensive electrostatic effect of the polyelectrolytes. The buildup of the viologen radicals was studied under the steady-state illumination of the three component systems including viologen and RSH. The dFl group was demonstrated to serve as a very efficient photosensitizer in the oxidative cycle in case back electron transfer was retarded. This is the case of the AdFl-2-SPV system which gave the quantum yield of about 0.4 for the SPV⁻ buildup. By comparison, the AdFl-2-MV²+ system resulted in a much slower buildup of MV +radicals.     

Quenching of Singlet Oxygen by a Carotenoid–Cyclodextrin Complex: The Importance of Aggregate Formation

The Girard's reagent P derivative of canthaxanthin ((GRP)₂-canthaxanthin), a dicationic carotenoid, forms a highly water-dispersible complex with (2-hydroxypropyl)-γ-cyclodextrin. The UV–visible light spectrum of the complex is consistent with some degree of aggregation, but the spectrum is independent of concentration from 7.5 to 750 μ m . Stern-Vomer plots for singlet-oxygen quenching by the complex are linear over a concentration range of 0–20 μ m . In the presence of 1 m m (2-hydroxypropyl)-γ-cyclodextrin, the singlet-oxygen quenching constant for the complex is 7.9 ± 0.9 × 10⁸  m ⁻¹s⁻¹. This is about an order of magnitude lower than the singlet-oxygen quenching constants for (GRP)₂-canthaxanthin in various organic solvents. The properties of the complex are also compared with the properties of (GRP)₂-canthaxanthin solubilized in neat water and in water containing various detergents. The singlet-oxygen quenching constant for (GRP)₂-canthaxanthin in micelles depends strongly on the specific detergent used, varying from 9.4 × 10⁸  m ⁻¹s⁻¹ for hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) to 1.24 ± 0.4 × 10¹⁰  m ⁻¹s⁻¹ for sodium dodecyl sulfate. The small quenching constant in CTAB micelles correlates with spectroscopic evidence for aggregation of the (GRP)₂-canthaxanthin in this detergent.     

Luminol Oxidation by Hydrogen Peroxide Catalyzed by Tobacco Anionic Peroxidase: Steady-State Luminescent and Transient Kinetic Studies

The properties of a newly isolated anionic tobacco peroxidase from transgenic tobacco plants overexpressing the enzyme have been studied with respect to the chemiluminescent reaction of luminol oxidation. These were compared to the properties of horseradish peroxidase in the cooxidation of luminol and p -iodophenol, the enhanced chemiluminescence reaction. The pH, luminol and hydrogen peroxide concentrations were optimized for maximum sensitivity using the tobacco enzyme. The detection limit for the latter under the optimal conditions (2.5 m M luminol, 2 m M hydrogen peroxide, 100 m M Naborate buffer, pH 9.3) was about 0.1 p M , which is at least five times lower than that for horseradish peroxidase in enhanced chemiluminescence with p -iodophenol. The rate constants for the elementary steps of the enzyme-catalyzed reaction have been determined: k ₁= 4.9 × 10⁶ M ⁻¹ s¹, k ₂= 7.3 × 10⁶ M ⁻¹ s⁻¹, k ³= 2.1 × 10⁶ M ⁻¹ s⁻¹ (pH 9.3). The similarity of these rate constants is unusual for plant peroxidases. The high catalytic activity of tobacco peroxidase in the luminescent reaction is explained by the high reactivity of its Compound II toward luminol and the high stability of the holoenzyme with respect to heme dissociation. This seems to be a unique property of this particular enzyme among other plant peroxidases.     

RATE CONSTANTS FOR INTERACTION OF 1O21Δg) WITH AZIDE ION IN WATER

Abstract— The rate constant for quenching of ¹O₂ by azide ion in water was determined to be (5.0 ± 0.4) × 10⁸ M ⁻¹ s⁻¹ using a variety of sensitizers (including humic acids) and ¹O₂ acceptors. The apparent second-order rate constant decreases with pH below pH 5.5 in accordance with the protonation of azide ion to form hydrazoic acid (p K _a= 4.6). Quenching by hydrazoic acid is at least 2 orders of magnitude slower than by azide ion. Greater than 99% of all interactions between ¹O₂ and azide ion involve physical quenching rather than chemical reaction. Humic acid triplets are not significantly quenched by azide ion at concentrations less than 2 m M , allowing azide ion quenching to be used as a diagnostic test for the intermediacy of ¹O₂ in photosensitized oxidations in natural surface waters.     

Tryptophan Quenching of Zinc-Phthalocyanine and Porphycene Fluorescence in Micellar CTAC

Singlet excited state deactivation of a zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPc), porphycene (Po) and tetrapropyl-porphycene (PrPo) by anionic tryptophan (Trp⁻) were investigated in cetyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTAC) micelles at pH 9.2 ± 0.1, regulated by a Tris buffer. Data obtained from steady-state experiments over a wide range of detergent and added NaCl concentrations were analyzed by using a pseudophase ion-exchange model (Abuin et al., J. Phys. Chem . 87, 5166–5172, 1983). The model was applied to derive singlet quenching rate constants for ZnPc and the porphycenes by Trp⁻ and the selectivity coefficient for Trp/Cl exchange at the micellar surface. The results point to an electron transfer quenching. Neutral tryptophan also quenches efficiently ZnPc fluorescence in CTAC without added buffer and Trp⁻ does not deactivate the triplet state of these dyes. By flash photolysis, only the absorption of the triplet species was detected.     

STUDIES OF SODIUM TAUROCHOLATE MICELLES USING FLUORESCENT PROBE MOLECULES

Abstract Micelles formed by sodium taurocholate (NaTC) and mixed micelles formed by NaTC with detergents (SDS, reduced Triton X-100 and CTAC) were studied with fluorescent probes. Pyrene was used as an indicator of the polarity of the micellar binding site by comparison of the fluorescence spectra and vibronic band intensity ratios of pyrene in the different systems. Perylene was used as a fluorescence polarization probe to study the rigidity of the NaTC and mixed micelles. The fluorescence lifetime of perylene in the different systems was also measured. Results of the studies were compared with measurements of the probes in cyclohexane, ethanol and aqueous beta-cyclodextrin. Perylene was found to be more rigidly bound in the NaTC micelles than in the detergent micelles. Insertion of small amounts of reduced Triton X-100 into the NaTC micelles appears to increase the rigidity. The binding sites of NaTC and CTAC have similar polarities, and are more polar than those of SDS and reduced Triton X-100. Insertion of any of the detergents into the NaTC micelle decreases the polarity of the binding site, possibly by reducing the penetration of water into the micelle.     

ANALYSIS OF FLUORESCENCE KINETICS AND ENERGY TRANSFER IN ISOLATED α SUBUNITS OF PHYCOERYTHRIN FROM Nostoc sp.

Abstract— The fluorescence decay profiles, relative quantum yield, and transmission of the phycoerythrin a subunit, isolated from the photosynthetic antenna system of Nostoc sp., were measured using single picosecond laser excitation. The fluorescence decay profiles were found to be intensity independent for the intensity range investigated (4 × 10¹³ and 4 × 10¹⁵ photons-cm-² per pulse). The decay profiles were fitted to a model assuming both chromophores absorb and fluoresce. The inferred total deactivation rates for the two chromophores, in the absence of energy transfer and when the effects of the response time of the streak camera and the finite pulse width are properly included, are 1.0 × 10¹⁰s' and 1.0 × 10⁹ s ¹ for the s and f chromophores. respectively, whereas the transfer rate between the two fluorophorcs is estimated to be 1.0 × 10¹⁰ s⁻¹ giving a s→ f transfer rate on the order of (100 ps)⁻¹. Steady-atate polarization measurements were found to be equal to those calculated using the rate parameters inferred from the kinetic model fit to the fluorescence decays. The apparent decrease in the relative fluorescence quantum yield and increase of the relative transmission with increasing excitation intensity is suggestive of ground state depletion and upper excited state absorption. Evidence suggests that exciton annihilation is absent within isolated α subunits for the intensity range investigated (4 × 10¹³ to 4 × 10¹⁵ photons-cm ² per pulse).     

Fast Redox Perturbation of Aqueous Solution by Photoexcitation of Pyranine

Abstract— Intense illumination (60-120 MW/cm²) of an oxygen-free aqueous solution of pyranine (8-hydroxypyrene-l,3,6-tri-sulfonate) by the third harmonic frequency of an Nd-Yag laser (355 nm) drives a two successive-photon oxidative process of the dye. The first photon excites the dye to its first electronic singlet state. The second photon interacts with the excited molecule, ejects an electron to the solution and deactivates the molecule to a ground state of the oxidized dye (φ⁺). The oxidized product, φ⁺, is an intensely colored compound (Λ_max= 445 nm, ε= 43 000 ± 1000 M ⁻¹ cm⁻¹) that reacts with a variety of electron donors like quinols, ascorbate and ferrous compounds. In the absence of added reductant, φ⁺ is stable, having a lifetime of -10 min. In acidic solutions the solvated electrons generated by the photochemical reaction react preferentially with H⁺. In alkaline solution the favored electron acceptor is the ground-state pyranine anion and a radical, φ, of the reduced dye is formed. The reduced product is well distinguished from the oxidized one, having its maximal absorption at 510 nm with e = 25 000 ± 2000 M^-l cm⁻¹. The oxidized radical can be reduced either by φ^- or by other electron donors. The apparent second-order rate constants of these reactions, which vary from 10⁶ up to 10⁹M⁻¹ s⁻¹, are slower than the rates of diffusion-controlled reactions. Thus the redox reactions are limited by an energy barrier for electron transfer within the encounter complex between the reactants.     

KINETICS and THERMODYNAMICS OF THE AUTOXIDATION OF REDUCED FLAVIN MONONUCLEOTIDE (FMN)

Abstract— Pulse radiolysis of flavin mononucleotide (FMN) solutions produce flavin semiquinone radicals. The equilibrium constant of radical formation was determined in the pH range2–7 as a function of flavin concentration. Several complex constants as well as the kinetics of equilibration were measured in this pH regime. The rate constant of the autoxidation of the free flavin mononucleotide semiquinone radical was determined to be (1 ± 0.5) × 10⁴ M ⁻¹ s⁻¹. It is shown that between pH 2 and 7 the direct reaction of the dihydroflavin with oxygen is negligibly slow compared to the rate of autocatalysis. The autoxidation of dihydroflavin is discussed in relation to electron transfer theory.     

PHOTOREDUCTION OF IRON(III)PORPHYRINS

Abstract— Ferrideuteroporphyrin in benzene, water or micelle solutions containing primary or secondary alcohols as well as in pure or basic 2-propanol solutions is clearly reduced to the ferrous state by continuous light irradiation in the Soret region. Quantum yields range between 4 × 10⁻⁴ and 3 × 10⁻² depending on the solvents used and on the coordination state of the ferric porphyrin. As inferred from laser pulse photolysis experiments, the primary chemical step appears to be the homolytic cleavage of the bond between the ferric ion and a coordinated alcoholate anion leading to the ferrous porphyrin and the alkoxy radical. This cleavage is found to occur within less than 50 ns. The alkoxy radical rearranges leading to the α-hydroxyalkyl radical which reacts with excess ferric porphyrin leading to further reduction. The reaction rate constant for the reaction of α-hydroxyisopropyl radicals is found to be k = (2.1 ± 0.3) × 10⁸ M ⁻¹ s⁻¹ in pure 2-propanol. As expected, this rate is greatly increased in basic 2-propanol where α-hydroxyisopropyl radicals deprotonate.     

ELECTRON TRANSFER FROM CHLOROPHYLL a TO QUINONE IN MONO- AND MULTILAYER ARRAYS

Abstract— Mono- and multilayers of chlorophyll a (Chl a )– lecithin have been prepared on quartz slides, by means of the Blodgett-Langmuir technique, for fluorescence studies. Self-quenching of the Chl a fluorescence has been observed in Chl a -lecithin single layer excited with a laser light at 632.8 nm. The fluorescence yield is reduced by 50% at a concentration of 7 ± 10¹² Chl a molecules cm⁻². Chl a fluorescence quenching, by adding N,N -distearoyl-1,4-diaminoanthraquinone (SAQ), has been studied. in a single layer, in pure Chl a and also at various dilutions of Chl a in lecithin. The results are explained in terms of a dynamic quenching rather than in terms of a permanent complex formation, at the ground state, between Chl a and SAQ. The fluorescence quenching has been interpreted as the result of an electron transfer from excited Chl a to SAQ, and rate constants of 8.3 ± 10⁻⁵ cm² molecule⁻¹ S⁻¹ and 2.4 ± 10⁻⁴ cm² molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ have been found for pure diluted Chl a , respectively. Ten per cent of the diluted Chl a fluorescence always remains unquenchable and independent of the quinone concentration. In multilayers, where SAQ and Chl a are in different layers, there is no fluorescence quenching for pure or diluted Chl a even when the chromophores are in two adjacent layers. This happens only if SAQ is not able to diffuse from one layer to another. A minimum value of 22.4 nm has been found for the singlet exciton diffusion length in pure Chl a multilayers.     

Irradiation of DNA with 193 nm Light Yields Formamidopyrimidine-DNA Glycosylase (Fpg) Protein-Sensitive Lesions

Abstract— Irradiation of aqueous solutions of plasmid DNA (pUC18) at pH 7.6 with 193 nm laser light results in low yields of prompt single strand breakage (air-saturated sample φ_ssb= [1.5 ± 0.1] ± 10⁻⁴, argon-saturated sample φ_ssb= [0.9 ± 0.1] ± 10⁻⁴). Treatment of the irradiated DNA samples with Escherichia coli formamidopyrimi-dine-DNA glycosylase (Fpg) protein results in an approximate 20-fold increase in the yield of single strand breakage (air-saturated sample φ_fpg= [33.1 ± 3.1] ± 10⁻⁴, argon-saturated sample φ_fpg= [23.8 ± 2.6] × 10 ⁴). This result indicates that 193 nm light induces other modification) (most likely of the purine moieties) that are 20 times more abundant than prompt strand breakage within the DNA matrix.     

USE OF TRIS (2,2'-BIPYRIDINE) RUTHENIUM(II) DICATION IN A NOVEL METHOD FOR THE DETERMINATION OF SINGLET OXYGEN REACTION RATES: APPLICATION TO STUDIES OF GELATIN

Abstract— A novel method for the determination of singlet oxygen reaction rate constants is described and applied to studies of cyclohexadiene in methanol and gelatins in H₂O and D₂O. The technique uses tris (2,2'-bipyridine) ruthenium(II) dication (Ru(bipy)₃₂₊) as both singlet oxygen sensitizer and in situ oxygen concentration monitor during irradiation of sealed samples. Because of the high efficiency with which the luminescence of Ru(bipy)₃2+* can be detected, and the fact that emission lifetimes are used, the method offers some advantages over those previously described. The advantages and disadvantages of the method are discussed. A rate constant of 2.1 (±0.3) x 10⁶ mol^-1 dm³ s^-1 has been determined for the reaction of ¹O₂ with cyclohexadiene in methanol. For two different photographic gelatins the sums of reaction and quenching rate constants are 2.0 (±0.4) x 10⁶ and 3.1 (±2.0) x 10⁵ mol^-1 dm³ s^-1; for swine skin gelatin this value is 3.9 (±2.4) × 10⁵ mol^-1 dm³ s^-1. Chemical reaction, rather than physical quenching, is the dominant reaction route for gelatins and ¹O₂.     

CURCUMIN-DERIVED TRANSIENTS: A PULSED LASER AND PULSE RADIOLYSIS STUDY

Abstract In this paper we report a time-resolved investigation of transients derived from curcumin, which may be intimately involved in the processes leading to its biological activity. Fluorescence and triplet quantum yields are respectively 0.06 and 0.11. The high percentage of internal conversion is proposed to proceed via H-transfer within the thermodynamically favored enol structure of what is formally a 1,3-diketone. The triplet energy (191 ± 2 kJ mol⁻¹), natural lifetime (1.5 μs) and self-quenching rate constant (5.0 × 10⁸ L mol⁻¹ s⁻¹) have been determined. Oxygen quenching of the triplet leads to the production of singlet oxygen with unit efficiency. Curcumin quenches the latter species very inefficiently (2.5 × 10⁵ L mob⁻¹ s⁻¹). The curcumin radical has been produced via three mechanistically distinct methods. This species is unreactive toward oxygen but is repaired by vitamins C and E and anthralin.     

在胶束中竹红菌甲素的光物理特性

研究了竹红菌甲素在胶束水溶液中的增溶能力及其光物理特性。实验证明,竹红菌甲素可以增溶于非离子型(TX-100),阳离子型(TDPB)和阴离子型(SDS)胶束水溶液中,增溶能力的顺序为:TX-100>TDPB>SDS。观察到在胶束中竹红菌甲素的两种互变异构体比例变化,在TDPB胶束中在高居占度条件下生成了基态相迂复合物,吸收峰位λ_max630nm,其对应的激基缔合物在荧光谱中出现在λ_max670nm处。     

FLUORESCENCE OF AZINES

Abstract— A comparison of the transient absorption spectra from the photolysis of disulfides in solution suggests that C-S bond breakage is a common primary photolytic process. This process becomes more important as the resulting carbon centered radical is stabilized by increasing alkyl substitution or resonance interaction with an aromatic system. The perthiyl radical product is characterized by λ_max∽380 nm,ε₃₈₀∽1700 M ⁻¹ cm⁻¹ and decays by second order kinetics with k ₂∽3.7×10⁸ M ⁻¹ s⁻¹ in water.
In the presence of O₂, the photolysis of disulfides which produce the thiyl radical give transient absorptions in the 500–600 nm region. Possible identities of these transients are discussed.