15N CIDNP investigations of the peroxynitric acid nitration of L-tyrosine and of related compounds

Peroxynitric acid (O2NOOH) nitrates L-tyrosine and related compounds at pH 2-5. During reaction with O2(15)NOOH in the probe of a 15N NMR spectrometer, the NMR signals of the nitration products of L-tyrosine, N-acetyl-L-tyrosine, 4-fluorophenol and 4-methoxyphenylacetic acid appear in emission indicating a nitration via free radicals. Nuclear polarizations are built up in radical pairs [15NO2* , PhO*]F or [15NO2* , ArH*+]F formed by diffusive encounters of 15NO2 with phenoxyl-type radicals PhO or with aromatic radical cations ArH*+. Quantitative 15N CIDNP investigations with N-acetyl-L-tyrosine and 4-fluorophenol show that the radical-dependent nitration is the only reaction pathway. During the nitration reaction, the 15N NMR signal of 15NO3- also appears in emission. This is explained by singlet-triplet transitions in radical pairs [15NO2* , 15NO3*]S generated by electron transfer between O2(15)NOOH and H15NO2 formed as a reaction intermediate. During reaction of peroxynitric acid with ascorbic acid, 15N CIDNP is again observed in the 15N NMR signal of 15NO3- showing that ascorbic acid is oxidized by free radicals. In contrast to this, O2(15)NOOH reacts with glutathione and cysteine without the appearance of 15N CIDNP, indicating a direct oxidation without participation of free radicals.     

Thermal decomposition of HO2NO2 (peroxynitric acid, PNA): rate coefficient and determination of the enthalpy of formation

Rate coefficients for the gas-phase thermal decomposition of HO(2)NO(2) (peroxynitric acid, PNA) are reported at temperatures between 331 and 350 K at total pressures of 25 and 50 Torr of N(2). Rate coefficients were determined by measuring the steady-state OH concentration in a mixture of known concentrations of HO(2)NO(2) and NO. The measured thermal decomposition rate coefficients k(-)(1)(T,P) are used in combination with previously published rate coefficient data for the HO(2)NO(2) formation reaction to yield a standard enthalpy for reaction 1 of Delta(r)H degrees (298K) = -24.0 +/- 0.5 kcal mol(-1) (uncertainties are 2sigma values and include estimated systematic errors). A HO(2)NO(2) standard heat of formation, Delta(f)H degrees (298K)(HO(2)NO(2)), of -12.6 +/- 1.0 kcal mol(-1) was calculated from this value. Some of the previously reported data on the thermal decomposition of HO(2)NO(2) have been reanalyzed and shown to be in good agreement with our reported value.     

The role of oxoammonium cation in the SOD-mimic activity of cyclic nitroxides

Cyclic nitroxides (RNO(*)) mimic the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and demonstrate antioxidant properties in numerous in vitro and in vivo models. Their broad antioxidant activity may involve the participation of their reduced and oxidized forms, that is, hydroxylamine (RNO-H) and oxoammonium cation (RNO(+)). To examine this possibility we studied the reactions of RNO(*) and RNO(+) with HO(2)(*)/O(2)(*)(-) and with several reductants by pulse radiolysis and rapid-mixing stopped-flow techniques. The oxoammonium cations were generated by electrochemical and radiolytic oxidation of 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidinoxyl (TPO) and 3-carbamoyl-2,2,5,5-tetramethylpyrrolidinoxyl (3-CP). The rate constant for the reaction of RNO(*) with HO(2)(*) to form RNO(+) was determined to be (1.2 +/- 0.1) x 10(8) for TPO and (1.3 +/- 0.1) x 10(6) M(-)(1) s(-)(1) for 3-CP. The kinetics results demonstrate that the reaction of RNO(*) with HO(2)(*) proceeds via an inner-sphere electron-transfer mechanism. The rate constant for the reaction of RNO(*) with O(2)(*)(-) is lower than 1 x 10(3) M(-)(1) s(-)(1). The rate constant for the reaction of RNO(+) with O(2)(*)(-) was determined to be (3.4 +/- 0.2) x 10(9) for TPO(+) and (5.0 +/- 0.2) x 10(9) M(-)(1) s(-)(1) for 3-CP(+). Hence, both nitroxides catalyze the dismutation of superoxide through the RNO(*)/RNO(+) redox couple, and the dependence of the catalytic rate constant, k(cat), on pH displayed a bell-shaped curve having a maximum around pH 4. The oxoammonium cation oxidized ferrocyanide and HO(2)(-) by a one-electron transfer, whereas the oxidation of methanol, formate, and NADH proceeded through a two-electron-transfer reaction. The redox potential of RNO(*)/RNO(+) couple was calculated to be 0.75 and 0.89 V for 3-CP and TPO, respectively. The elucidated mechanism provides a clearer insight into the biological antioxidant properties of cyclic nitroxides that should permit design of even more effective antioxidants.     

Theoretical Study on Mechanism of Reaction of OH with HO2NO2

The reaction of HO2NO2 (peroxynitric acid, PNA) with OH was studied by the hybrid density functional B3LYP and CBS-QB3 methods. Based on the calculated potential energy surface, five reaction channels, H2O+NO2+O2, HOOH+NO3, NO2+HO3H, HO2+HONO2 and HO2+HOONO, were examined in detail. The major reaction channel is PNA+OH→M1→TS1→H2O+NO2+O2. Taking a pre-equilibrium approximation and using the CBS-QB3 energies, the theoretical rate constant of this channel was calculated as 1.13×10-12 cm3/(molecule s) at 300 K, in agreement with the experimental result. Comparison between reactions of HOONO2+OH and HONO2+OH was carried out. For HOR+OH reactions, the total rate constants increase from R=NO2 to R=ONO2, which is consistent with experimental measurements.     

Radicals produced by gamma-irradiation of hyperquenched glassy water containing 2'-deoxyguanosine-5'-monophosphate

Hyperquenched glassy water (HGW) has been suggested as the best model for liquid water, to be used in low-temperature studies of indirect radiation effects on dissolved biomolecules (Bednarek et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1996, 118, 9387). In the present work, these effects are examined by X-band electron spin resonance spectroscopy (ESR) in gamma-irradiated HGW matrix containing 2'-deoxyguanosine-5'-monophosphate. Analysis of the complex ESR spectra indicates that, in addition to OH(*) and HO2(*) radicals generated by water radiolysis, three species are trapped at 77 K:(i) G(C8)H(*) radical, the H-adduct to the double bond at C8; (ii) G(- *) radical anion, the product of electron scavenging by the aromatic ring of the base; and (iii) dR(-H)(*) radicals formed by H abstraction from the sugar moiety, predominantly at the C'5 position. We discuss the yields of the radicals, their thermal stability and transformations, as well as the effect of photobleaching. This study confirms our earlier suggestion that in HGW the H atom addition/abstraction products are created at 77 K in competition with HO2(*) radicals, in a concerted process following ionization of water molecule at L-type defect sites of the H-bonded matrix. The lack of OH(*) reactivity toward the solute suggests that the H-bonded structure in HGW is much more effective in recombining OH(*) radicals than that of aqueous glasses obtained from highly concentrated electrolyte solutions. Furthermore, complementary experiments for the neat matrix have provided evidence that HO2(*) radicals are not the product of H atom reaction with molecular oxygen, possibly generated by ultrasounds used in the process of sample preparation.     

Kinetics and mechanism of peroxymonocarbonate formation

The kinetics and mechanism of peroxymonocarbonate (HCO(4)(-)) formation in the reaction of hydrogen peroxide with bicarbonate have been investigated for the pH 6-9 range. A double pH jump method was used in which (13)C-labeled bicarbonate solutions are first acidified to produce (13)CO(2) and then brought to higher pH values by addition of base in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. The time evolution of the (13)C NMR spectrum was used to establish the competitive formation and subsequent equilibration of bicarbonate and peroxymonocarbonate following the second pH jump. Kinetic simulations are consistent with a mechanism for the bicarbonate reaction with peroxide in which the initial formation of CO(2) via dehydration of bicarbonate is followed by reaction of CO(2) with H(2)O(2) (perhydration) and its conjugate base HOO(-) (base-catalyzed perhydration). The rate of peroxymonocarbonate formation from bicarbonate increases with decreasing pH because of the increased availability of CO(2) as an intermediate. The selectivity for formation of HCO(4)(-) relative to the hydration product HCO(3)(-) increases with increasing pH as a consequence of the HOO(-) pathway and the slower overall equilibration rate, and this pH dependence allows estimation of rate constants for the reaction of CO(2) with H(2)O(2) and HOO(-) at 25 °C (2 × 10(-2) M(-1) s(-1) and 280 M(-1) s(-1), respectively). The contributions of the HOO(-) and H(2)O(2) pathways are comparable at pH 8. In contrast to the perhydration of many other common inorganic and organic acids, the facile nature of the CO(2)/HCO(3)(-) equilibrium and relatively high equilibrium availability of the acid anhydride (CO(2)) at neutral pH allows for rapid formation of the peroxymonocarbonate ion without strong acid catalysis. Formation of peroxymonocarbonate by the reaction of HCO(3)(-) with H(2)O(2) is significantly accelerated by carbonic anhydrase and the model complex [Zn(II)L(H(2)O)](2+) (L = 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane).     

Direct determination of the Gibbs' energy of formation of peroxynitrous acid

The kinetics of decomposition of peroxynitrous acid (ONOOH) was investigated in the presence of 0.1-0.75 M HClO(4) and at a constant ionic strength. The decay rate of ONOOH decreased in the presence of H(2)O(2), approaching a limiting value well below 75 mM H(2)O(2). It also decreased in the presence of relatively low [HNO(2)] but did not approach a lower limiting value, since ONOOH reacts directly with HNO(2). The latter reaction corresponds to a HNO(2)- and H(+)-catalyzed isomerization of ONOOH to nitrate, and its third-order rate constant was determined to be 520 +/- 30 M(-)(2) s(-)(1). The mechanism of formation of O(2)NOOH from ONOOH in the presence of H(2)O(2) was also scrutinized. The results demonstrated that in the presence of 0.1-0.75 M HClO(4) and 75 mM H(2)O(2) the formation of O(2)NOOH is insignificant. The most important finding in this work is the reversibility of the reaction ONOOH + H(2)O right harpoon over left harpoon HNO(2) + H(2)O(2), and its equilibrium constant was determined to be (7.5 +/- 0.4) x 10(-)(4) M. Using this value, the Gibbs' energy of formation of ONOOH was calculated to be 7.1 +/- 0.2 kcal/mol. This figure is in good agreement with the value determined previously from kinetic data using parameters for radicals formed during homolysis of peroxynitrite.     

Oxidation of alkylarenes by nitrate catalyzed by polyoxophosphomolybdates: synthetic applications and mechanistic insights

Alkylarenes were catalytically and selectively oxidized to the corresponding benzylic acetates and carbonyl products by nitrate salts in acetic acid in the presence of Keggin type molybdenum-based heteropolyacids, H(3+)(x)()PV(x)()Mo(12)(-)(x)()O(40) (x = 0-2). H(5)PV(2)Mo(10)O(40) was especially effective. For methylarenes there was no over-oxidation to the carboxylic acid contrary to what was observed for nitric acid as oxidant. The conversion to the aldehyde/ketone could be increased by the addition of water to the reaction mixture. As evidenced by IR and (15)N NMR spectroscopy, initially the nitrate salt reacted with H(5)PV(2)Mo(10)O(40) to yield a N(V)O(2)(+)[H(4)PV(2)Mo(10)O(40)] intermediate. In an electron-transfer reaction, the proposed N(V)O(2)(+)[H(4)PV(2)Mo(10)O(40)] complex reacts with the alkylarene substrate to yield a radical-cation-based donor-acceptor intermediate, N(IV)O(2)[H(4)PV(2)Mo(10)O(40)]-ArCH(2)R(+)(*). Concurrent proton transfer yields an alkylarene radical, ArCHR(*), and NO(2). Alternatively, it is possible that the N(V)O(2)(+)[H(4)PV(2)Mo(10)O(40)] complex abstracts a hydrogen atom from alkylarene substrate to directly yield ArCHR(*) and NO(2). The electron transfer-proton transfer and hydrogen abstraction scenarios are supported by the correlation of the reaction rate with the ionization potential and the bond dissociation energy at the benzylic positions of the alkylarene, respectively, the high kinetic isotope effect determined for substrates deuterated at the benzylic position, and the reaction order in the catalyst. Product selectivity in the oxidation of phenylcyclopropane tends to support the electron transfer-proton transfer pathway. The ArCHR(*) and NO(2) radical species undergo heterocoupling to yield a benzylic nitrite, which undergoes hydrolysis or acetolysis and subsequent reactions to yield benzylic acetates and corresponding aldehydes or ketones as final products.     

Behavior of two different constituents of natural organic matter in the removal of sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate by O3 and O3-based advanced oxidation processes

The objective of this study was to analyze the role played by two components of natural organic matter (NOM), gallic acid (GAL) and humic acid (HUM), in the removal of the surfactant sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate (SDBS) from waters by O(3)-based oxidation processes, i.e., O(3)/H(2)O(2), O(3)/granular activated carbon (GAC), and O(3)/powdered activated carbon (PAC). It was found that the presence of low concentrations of these compounds (1 mg/L) during SDBS ozonation increases both the ozone decomposition rate and the rate of SDBS removal from the medium. Because of the low reactivity of SDBS with ozone, these effects are mainly due to an increase in the transformation rate of ozone into HO(*) radicals. Results obtained demonstrate that the presence of GAL and HUM during SDBS ozonation increases the concentration of O(2)(-*) radicals in the medium, confirming that GAL and HUM act as initiating agents of ozone transformation into HO(*). It was also found that this effect was smaller with a larger molecular size of the acid. Presence of GAL and HUM during SDBS removal by O(3)/H(2)O(2), O(3)/GAC, and O(3)/PAC systems also increases the SDBS degradation rate, confirming the role of these compounds as initiators of ozone transformation into HO(*) radicals.     

A density functional theory study of the mechanism of free radical generation in the system vanadate/PCA/H2O2

Experimental studies by Shul'pin and co-workers have shown that vanadate anions in combination with pyrazine-2-carboxylic acid (PCA identical with pcaH) produce an exceptionally active complex that promotes the oxidation of alkanes and other organic molecules. Reaction of this complex with H2O2 releases HOO* free radicals and generates V(IV) species, which are capable of generating HO* radicals by reaction with additional H2O2. The oxidation of alkanes is initiated by reaction with the HO* radicals. The mechanism of hydrocarbon oxidation with vanadate/PCA/H2O2 catalyst has been studied using density functional theory. The proposed model reproduces the major experimental observations. It is found that a vanadium complex with one pca (PCA identical with pcaH) and one H2O2 ligand is the precursor to the species responsible for HOO* generation. It is also found that species containing two pca ligands and an H2O2 molecule do not exist in the solution, in contradiction to previous interpretations of experimental observations. Calculated dependences of the oxidation rate on initial concentrations of PCA and H2O2 have characteristic maxima, the shapes of which are determined by the equilibrium concentration of the active species. Conversion of the precursors requires hydrogen transfer from H2O2 to a vanadyl group. Our calculations show that direct transfer has a higher barrier than pca-assisted indirect transfer. Indirect transfer occurs by migration of hydrogen from coordinated H2O2 to the oxygen of a pca ligand connected to the vanadium atom. The proposed mechanism demonstrates the important role of the cocatalyst in the reaction and explains why H2O2 complexes without pca are less active. Our work shows that the generation of HOO* radicals cannot occur via cleavage of a V-OOH bond in the complex formed directly from the precursors, as proposed before. The activation barrier for this process is too high. Instead, HOO* radicals are formed via a sequence of additional steps involving lower activation barriers. The new mechanism for free radical generation underestimates the observed rate of hexane oxidation by less than an order of magnitude; however, the calculated activation energy (67-81 kJ/mol) agrees well with that determined experimentally (63-80 kJ/mol).     

Theoretical Studies on the Isomerization of Peroxynitrite to Nitrate Mediated by Peroxynitrous Acid

The conversion of peroxynitrite （ONOO-） to nitrate （NO3-） mediated by peroxynitrous acid （ONOOH） has been investigated at the CCSD/6-311G（d）//B3LYP/6-31 1＋G（d,p） level. Two kinds of pathways for the title reaction were found. The results show that the energy barrier of isomerization through pathway 1 is around 25 kcal/mol in the gas phase. This value is significantly lower than that of isomerization without any catalysts. Thus, it indicates that ONOOH definitely makes the conversion from ONOO- to NO3- feasible. Although pathway 2 does not decrease the energy barrier of this isomerization, peroxynitric acid （O2NOOH） was obtained; moreover, this is a new pathway for this formation. In view of the results that peroxynitrate anion can decompose into nitrite and dioxygen, we conclude that our results are consistent with the experimental observation that nitrate, nitrite, and dioxygen are the main final products of the decay of peroxynitrite around pH 7.     

Hydroxyl radical formation by O-O bond homolysis in peroxynitrous acid

Peroxynitrite decay in weakly alkaline media occurs by two concurrent sets of pathways which are distinguished by their reaction products. One set leads to net isomerization to NO(3)(-) and the other set to net decomposition to O(2) plus NO(2)(-). At sufficiently high peroxynitrite concentrations, the decay half-time becomes concentration-independent and approaches a limiting value predicted by a mechanism in which reaction is initiated by unimolecular homolysis of the peroxo O-O bond, i.e., the following reaction: ONOOH --> (*)OH + (*)NO(2). This dynamical behavior excludes alternative postulated mechanisms that ascribe decomposition to bond rearrangement within bimolecular adducts. Nitrate and nitrite product distributions measured at very low peroxynitrite concentrations also correspond to predictions of the homolysis model, contrary to a recent report from another laboratory. Additionally, (1) the rate constant for the reaction ONOO(-) --> (*)NO + (*)O(2)(-), which is critical to the kinetic model, has been confirmed, (2) the apparent volume of activation for ONOOH decay (DeltaV() = 9.7 +/- 1.4 cm(3)/mol) has been shown to be independent of the concentration of added nitrite and identical to most other reported values, and (3) complex patterns of inhibition of O(2) formation by radical scavengers, which are impossible to rationalize by alternative proposed reaction schemes, are shown to be quantitatively in accord with the homolysis model. These observations resolve major disputes over experimental data existing in the literature; despite extensive investigation of these reactions, no verifiable experimental evidence has been advanced that contradicts the homolysis model.     

Dimethylselenide as a probe for reactions of halogenated alkoxyl radicals in aqueous solution. Degradation of dichloro- and dibromomethane

Using pulse radiolysis and steady-state gamma-radiolysis techniques, it has been established that, in air-saturated aqueous solutions, peroxyl radicals CH 2HalOO (*) (Hal = halogen) derived from CH 2Cl 2 and CH 2Br 2 react with dimethyl selenide (Me 2Se), with k on the order of 7 x 10 (7) M (-1) s (-1), to form HCO 2H, CH 2O, CO 2, and CO as final products. An overall two-electron oxidation process leads directly to dimethyl selenoxide (Me 2SeO), along with oxyl radical CH 2HalO (*). The latter subsequently oxidizes another Me 2Se molecule by a much faster one-electron transfer mechanism, leading to the formation of equal yields of CH 2O and the dimer radical cation (Me 2Se) 2 (*+). In absolute terms, these yields amount to 18% and 28% of the CH 2ClO (*) and CH 2BrO (*) yields, respectively, at 1 mM Me 2Se. In competition, CH 2HalO (*) rearranges into (*)CH(OH)Hal. These C-centered radicals react further via two pathways: (a) Addition of an oxygen molecule leads to the corresponding peroxyl radicals, that is, species prone to decomposition into H (+)/O 2 (*-) and formylhalide, HC(O)Hal, which further degrades mostly to H (+)/Hal (-) and CO. (b) Elimination of HHal yields the formyl radical H-C(*)=O with a rate constant of about 6 x 10 (5) s (-1) for Hal = Cl. In an air-saturated solution, the predominant reaction pathway of the H-C(*)=O radical is addition of oxygen. The formylperoxyl radical HC(O)OO (*) thus formed reacts with Me 2Se via an overall two-electron transfer mechanism, giving additional Me 2SeO and formyloxyl radicals HC(O)O(*). The latter rearrange via a 1,2 H-atom shift into (*)C(O)OH, which reacts with O2 to give CO2 and O2(*)(-). The minor fraction of H-C(*)=O undergoes hydration, with an estimated rate constant of k approximately 2 x 10(5) s(-1). The resulting HC(*)(OH)2 radical, upon reaction with O2, yields HCO 2H and H (+)/O2(*-). Some of the conclusions about the reactions of halogenated alkoxyl radicals are supported by quantum chemical calculations [B3LYP/6-31G(d,p)] taking into account the influence of water as a dielectric continuum [by the self-consistent reaction field polarized continuum model (SCRF=PCM) technique]. Based on detailed product studies, mechanisms are proposed for the free-radical degradation of CH 2Cl 2 and CH 2Br 2 in the presence of oxygen and an electron donor (namely, Me 2Se in this study), and properties of the reactive intermediates are discussed.     

Inhibition of peroxynitrite-induced nitration of tyrosine by glutathione in the presence of carbon dioxide through both radical repair and peroxynitrate formation

Peroxynitrite (ONOO-/ONOOH) is assumed to react preferentially with carbon dioxide in vivo to produce nitrogen dioxide (NO2*) and trioxocarbonate(1-) (CO3*-) radicals. We have studied the mechanism by which glutathione (GSH) inhibits the NO2*/CO3*--mediated formation of 3-nitrotyrosine. We found that even low concentrations of GSH strongly inhibit peroxynitrite-dependent tyrosine consumption (IC50 = 660 microM) as well as 3-nitrotyrosine formation (IC50) = 265 microM). From the determination of the level of oxygen produced or consumed under various initial conditions, it is inferred that GSH inhibits peroxynitrite-induced tyrosine consumption by re-reducing (repairing) the intermediate tyrosyl radicals. An additional protective pathway is mediated by the glutathiyl radical (GS*) through reduction of dioxygen to superoxide (O2*-) and reaction with NO2* to form peroxynitrate (O2NOOH/O2NOO-), which is largely unreactive towards tyrosine. Thus, GSH is highly effective in protecting tyrosine against an attack by peroxynitrite in the presence of CO2. Consequently, formation of 3-nitrotyrosine by freely diffusing NO2* radicals is highly unlikely at physiological levels of GSH.     

Photolytic and radiolytic oxidation of humic acid

The reactions of Br(2)(˙-), Br˙, HO˙ and N(3)˙ with Aldrich humic acid (AHA) were investigated. The Br/Br(2)(˙-) radicals were obtained in flash-photolysis experiments (λ(exc) = 266 nm) performed with NaS(2)O(8) solutions in the presence of bromide ions. HO˙ and N(3)˙ radicals were generated by pulse radiolysis of N(2)O-saturated solutions. From the combination of a bilinear analysis and computer simulations of the absorbance traces, it was possible to obtain information on the rate constants for the reactions of Br(2)(˙-), Br˙, HO˙ and N(3)˙ with AHA and on the intermediate species involved in the mechanism. Evidence for the participation of phenoxyl radicals (λ(max) = 410 nm) is given.     

15N Chemically Induced Dynamic Nuclear Polarization (15N‐CIDNP) Investigations of the Peroxynitrite Decay and Nitration of N‐Acetyl‐L‐tyrosine

During the decay of (¹⁵N)peroxynitrite (O?¹⁵NOO ^? ) in the presence of N‐acetyl‐L ‐tyrosine (Tyrac) in neutral solution and at 268 K, the ¹⁵N‐NMR signals of ¹⁵NO and ¹⁵NO show emission (E) and enhanced absorption (A) as it has already been observed by Butler and co‐workers in the presence of L ‐tyrosine (Tyr). The effects are built up in radical pairs [CO , ¹⁵NO ]^S formed by O? O bond scission of the (¹⁵N)peroxynitrite? CO₂ adduct (O?¹⁵NO? OCO ). In the absence of Tyrac and Tyr, the peroxynitrite decay rate is enhanced, and ¹⁵N‐CIDNP does not occur. This is explained by a chain reaction during the peroxynitrite decay involving N₂O₃ and radicals NO ^. and NO . The interpretation is supported by ¹⁵N‐CIDNP observed with (¹⁵N)peroxynitrite generated in situ during reaction of H₂O₂ with N‐acetyl‐N‐(¹⁵N)nitroso‐dl ‐tryptophan ((¹⁵N)NANT) at 298 K and pH 7.5. In the presence of Na¹⁵NO₂ at pH 7.5 and in acidic solution, ¹⁵N‐CIDNP appears in the nitration products of Tyrac, 1‐(¹⁵N)nitro‐N‐acetyl‐L ‐tyrosine (1‐¹⁵NO₂‐Tyrac) and 3‐(¹⁵N)nitro‐N‐acetyl‐L ‐tyrosine (3‐¹⁵NO₂‐Tyrac). The effects are built up in radical pairs [Tyrac ^. , ¹⁵NO ]^F formed by encounters of independently generated radicals Tyrac ^. and ¹⁵NO . Quantitative ¹⁵N‐CIDNP studies show that nitrogen dioxide dependent reactions are the main if not the only pathways for yielding both nitrate and nitrated products.     

Kinetics and mechanism of *NO2 reacting with various oxidation states of myoglobin

Nitrogen dioxide ((*)NO(2)) participates in a variety of biological reactions. Of great interest are the reactions of (*)NO(2) with oxymyoglobin and oxyhemoglobin, which are the predominant hemeproteins in biological systems. Although these reactions occur rapidly during the nitrite-catalyzed autoxidation of hemeproteins, their roles in systems producing (*)NO(2) in the presence of these hemeproteins have been greatly underestimated. In the present study, we employed pulse radiolysis to study directly the kinetics and mechanism of the reaction of oxymyoglobin (MbFe(II)O(2)) with (*)NO(2). The rate constant of this reaction was determined to be (4.5 +/- 0.3) x 10(7) M(-1)s(-1), and is among the highest rate constants measured for (*)NO(2) with any biomolecule at pH 7.4. The interconversion among the various oxidation states of myoglobin that is prompted by nitrogen oxide species is remarkable. The reaction of MbFe(II)O(2) with (*)NO(2) forms MbFe(III)OONO(2), which undergoes rapid heterolysis along the O-O bond to yield MbFe(V)=O and NO(3-). The perferryl-myoglobin (MbFe(V)=O) transforms rapidly into the ferryl species that has a radical site on the globin ((*)MbFe(IV)=O). The latter oxidizes another oxymyoglobin (10(4) M(-1)s(-1) < k(17) < 10(7) M(-1)s(-1)) and generates equal amounts of ferrylmyoglobin and metmyoglobin. At much longer times, the ferrylmyoglobin disappears through a relatively slow comproportionation with oxymyoglobin (k(18) = 21.3 +/- 5.3 M(-1)s(-1)). Eventually, each (*)NO(2) radical converts three oxymyoglobin molecules into metmyoglobin. The same intermediate, namely MbFe(III)OONO(2), is also formed via the reaction peroxynitrate (O(2)NOO(-)/O(2)NOOH) with metmyoglobin (k(19) = (4.6 +/- 0.3) x 10(4) M(-1)s(-1)). The reaction of (*)NO(2) with ferrylmyoglobin (k(20) = (1.2 +/- 0.2) x 10(7) M(-1)s(-1)) yields MbFe(III)ONO(2), which in turn dissociates (k(21) = 190 +/- 20 s(-1)) into metmyoglobin and NO(3-). This rate constant was found to be the same as that measured for the decay of the intermediate formed in the reaction of MbFe(II)O(2) with (*)NO, which suggests that MbFe(III)ONO(2) is the intermediate observed in both processes. This conclusion is supported by thermokinetic arguments. The present results suggest that hemeproteins may detoxify (*)NO(2) and thus preempt deleterious processes, such as nitration of proteins. Such a possibility is substantiated by the observation that the reactions of (*)NO(2) with the various oxidation states of myoglobin lead to the formation of metmyoglobin, which, though not functional in the gas transport, is nevertheless nontoxic at physiological pH.     

Generation of peroxynitrite from reaction of N-acetyl-N-nitrosotryptophan with hydrogen peroxide over a wide range of pH values

The novel reaction of N-acetyl-N-nitrosotryptophan (NANT) with hydrogen peroxide to yield peroxynitrite is demonstrated. Quantum chemical calculations performed at CBS-QB3 level of theory predicted that the reaction of N-nitrosoindole with both H(2)O(2) and its corresponding anion is thermodynamically feasible. At pH 13, the formation of peroxynitrite from the bimolecular reaction of NANT with H(2)O(2) is unequivocally demonstrated by (15)N NMR spectrometry. In order to prove the intermediacy of peroxynitrite from the NANT-H(2)O(2) system at neutral (7.4) and acidic pH (4.5), the characteristic pattern of CIDNP (chemically induced dynamic nuclear polarization) signals were recorded, i.e. enhanced absorption in the (15)N NMR signal of nitrate and emission in the (15)N NMR signal of nitrite. Most interestingly, the NANT-H(2)O(2) system nitrated N-acetyltyrosine at pH 4 via recombination of freely diffusing nitrogen dioxide and tyrosyl radicals, but nitration was negligible at pH 7.4. Since the combination between NANT and H(2)O(2) is slow, endogenous N-nitrosotryptophan residues cannot act as a "carrier" for peroxynitrite.     

Formation of nitric acid in the gas-phase HO2 + NO reaction: effects of temperature and water vapor

A high-pressure turbulent flow reactor coupled with a chemical ionization mass spectrometer was used to investigate the minor channel (1b) producing nitric acid, HNO3, in the HO2 + NO reaction for which only one channel (1a) is known so far: HO2 + NO --> OH + NO2 (1a), HO2 + NO --> HNO3 (1b). The reaction has been investigated in the temperature range 223-298 K at a pressure of 200 Torr of N2 carrier gas. The influence of water vapor has been studied at 298 K. The branching ratio, k1b/k1a, was found to increase from (0.18(+0.04/-0.06))% at 298 K to (0.87(+0.05/-0.08))% at 223 K, corresponding to k1b = (1.6 +/- 0.5) x 10(-14) and (10.4 +/- 1.7) x 10(-14) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1), respectively at 298 and 223 K. The data could be fitted by the Arrhenius expression k1b = 6.4 x 10(-17) exp((1644 +/- 76)/T) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1) at T = 223-298 K. The yield of HNO3 was found to increase in the presence of water vapor (by 90% at about 3 Torr of H2O). Implications of the obtained results for atmospheric radicals chemistry and chemical amplifiers used to measure peroxy radicals are discussed. The results show in particular that reaction 1b can be a significant loss process for the HO(x) (OH, HO2) radicals in the upper troposphere.     

Does α‐effect exist in E2 reactions? A G2(+) investigation

The gas-phase base-induced bimolecular elimination (E2) reactions at saturated carbon with 13 bases, B(-) + CH3CH2Cl --> BH + CH2=CH2 + Cl(-) (B = HO, CH3O, CH3CH2O, FCH2CH2O, ClCH2CH2O, Cl, Br, FO, ClO, BrO, HOO, HSO, and H2NO), were investigated with the high-level G2(+) theory. It was found that all alpha-bases with adjacent lone pair electrons examined exhibited downward deviations from the correlation line between the overall barriers and proton affinities for the normal bases without adjacent lone pair electrons, indicating the existence of the alpha-effect in the gas phase E2 reactions. The sizes of the alpha-effect for the E2 reaction, DeltaH(alpha)(E2), span a smaller range if the alpha-atoms are on the same column in the periodic table, in contrast to the corresponding S(N)2 reactions, where the DeltaH(alpha)(S(N)2) values significantly decrease from an upper to a lower column. The origin of the alpha-effects in E2 reactions can be interpreted by the favorable orbital interaction between the lone-pair electrons and positively charged anti-bonding orbital. It is worth noticing that the neighboring electron-rich pi lobe instead of lone pair electrons could also cause the alpha-effect in E2 reaction.