Theoretical study of the spin trapping of hydroxyl radical by cyclic nitrones: a density functional theory approach

The hydroxyl radical (*OH) is an important mediator of biological oxidative stress, and this has stimulated interest in its detection. 5,5-Dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (DMPO) and its alkoxycarbonyl and alkoxyphosphoryl analogues have been employed as spin traps for electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopic radical detection. Energies of optimized geometries of nitrones and their corresponding *OH adducts were calculated using density functional theory (DFT) at the B3LYP/6-31+G//B3LYP/6-31G level. Calculations predict that the trans adduct formation is favored in alkoxycarbonyl nitrones, while cis adducts with intramolecular H-bonding is favored for alkoxyphosphoryl nitrones. Addition of *OH to a phosphoryl-substituted nitrone is more exoergic than the carbonylated nitrones. Charge and spin densities on the nitrone spin traps were correlated with their rates of addition with *OH, and results show that the charge density on the nitronyl C, the site of *OH addition, is more positive in phosphorylated nitrones compared to DMPO and the alkoxycarbonyl nitrones. The dihedral angle between the beta-H and nitroxyl O bonds is smaller in phosphorylated nitrones, and that aspect appears to account for the longer half-lives of the spin adducts compared to those in DMPO and alkoxycarbonyl nitrones. Structures of nitrones with trifluoromethyl-, trifluoromethylcarbonyl-, methylsulfonyl-, trifluoromethylsulfonyl-, amido-, spiropentyl-, and spiroester substituents were optimized and their energies compared. Amido and spiroester nitrones were predicted to be the most suitable nitrones for spin trapping of *OH due to the similarity of their thermodynamic and electronic properties to those of alkoxyphosphoryl nitrones. Moreover, dimethoxyphosphoryl substitution at C-5 was found to be the most efficient substitution site for spin trapping of *OH, and their spin adducts are predicted to be the most stable of all of the isomeric forms.     

Reactivities of superoxide and hydroperoxyl radicals with disubstituted cyclic nitrones: a DFT study

The unique ability of nitrone spin traps to detect and characterize transient free radicals by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy has fueled the development of new spin traps with improved properties. Among a variety of free radicals in chemical and biological systems, superoxide radical anion (O(2)(?-)) plays a critical role as a precursor to other more oxidizing species such as hydroxyl radical (HO(?)), peroxynitrite (ONOO(-)), and hypochlorous acid (HOCl), and therefore the direct detection of O(2)(?-) is important. To overcome the limitations of conventional cyclic nitrones, that is, poor reactivity with O(2)(?-), instability of the O(2)(?-) adduct, and poor cellular target specificity, synthesis of disubstituted nitrones has become attractive. Disubstituted nitrones offer advantages over the monosubstituted ones because they allow bifunctionalization of spin traps, therefore accommodating all the desired spin trap properties in one molecular design. However, because of the high number of possible disubstituted analogues as candidate, a systematic computational study is needed to find leads for the optimal spin trap design for biconjugation. In this paper, calculation of the energetics of O(2)(?-) and HO(2)(?) adduct formation from various disubstituted nitrones at PCM/B3LYP/6-31+G(d,p)//B3LYP/6-31G(d) level of theory was performed to determine the most favorable disubstituted nitrones for this reaction. In addition, our results provided general trends of radical reactivity that is dependent upon but not exclusive to the charge densities of nitronyl-C, the position of substituents including stereoselectivities, and the presence of intramolecular H-bonding interaction. Unusually high exoergic ΔG(298K,aq)'s for O(2)(?-) and HO(2)(?) adduct formation were predicted for (3S,5S)-5-methyl-3,5-bis(methylcarbamoyl)-1-pyrroline N-oxide (11-cis) and (4S,5S)-5-dimethoxyphosphoryl-5-methyl-4-ethoxycarbonyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (29-trans) with ΔG(298K,aq) = -3.3 and -9.4 kcal/mol, respectively, which are the most exoergic ΔG(298K,aq) observed thus far for any nitrone at the level of theory employed in this study.     

Assignment of the EPR spectrum of 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (DMPO) superoxide spin adduct

[structure: see text] Spin trapping consists of using a nitrone or a nitroso compound to "trap" an unstable free radical as a long-lived nitroxide that can be characterized by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. The formation of DMPO-OOH, the spin adduct resulting from trapping superoxide (O(2)(*)(-)) with 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (DMPO), has been exploited to detect the generation of superoxide in a wide variety of biological and chemical systems. The 12-line EPR spectrum of DMPO-OOH has been either reported or mentioned in more than a thousand papers. It has been interpreted as resulting from the following couplings: A(N) approximately 1.42 mT, A(H)beta approximately 1.134 mT, and A(H)gamma(1H) approximately 0.125 mT. However, the DMPO-OOH EPR spectrum has an asymmetry that cannot be reproduced when the spectrum is calculated considering a single species. Recently, it was proposed that the 0.125 mT splitting was misassigned and actually results from the superimposition of two individual EPR spectra associated with different conformers of DMPO-OOH. We have prepared 5,5-dimethyl-[3,3-(2)H(2)]-1-pyrroline N-oxide (DMPO-d(2)), and we showed that the EPR spectrum of the corresponding superoxide spin adduct is composed of only six lines, in agreement with the assignment of the 0.125 mT splitting to a gamma-splitting from a hydrogen atom bonded to carbon 3 of DMPO. This result was supported by DFT calculations including water solvation, and the asymmetry of the DMPO-OOH EPR spectrum was nicely reproduced assuming a chemical exchange between two conformers.     

Separation and identification of DMPO adducts of oxygen-centered radicals formed from organic hydroperoxides by HPLC-ESR,ESI-MS and MS/MS

Many electron spin resonance (ESR) spectra of 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (DMPO) radical adducts from the reaction of organic hydroperoxides with heme proteins or Fe(2+) were assigned to the adducts of DMPO with peroxyl, alkoxyl, and alkyl radicals. In particular, the controversial assignment of DMPO/peroxyl radical adducts was based on the close similarity of their ESR spectra to that of the DMPO/superoxide radical adduct in conjunction with their insensitivity to superoxide dismutase, which distinguishes the peroxyl adducts from the DMPO/superoxide adduct. Although recent reports assigned the spectra suggested to be DMPO/peroxyl radical adducts to the DMPO/methoxyl adduct based on independent synthesis of the adduct and/or (17)O-labeling, (17)O-labeling is extremely expensive, and both of these assignments were still based on hyperfine coupling constants, which have not been confirmed by independent techniques. In this study, we have used online high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC or LC)/ESR, electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) to separate and directly characterize DMPO oxygen-centered radical adducts formed from the reaction of Fe(2+) with t-butyl or cumene hydroperoxide. In each reaction system, two DMPO oxygen-centered radical adducts were separated and detected by online LC/ESR. The first DMPO radical adduct from both systems showed identical chromatographic retention times (t(R) = 9.6 min) and hyperfine coupling constants (a(N) = 14.51 G, a(H)(beta) = 10.71 G, and a(H)(gamma) = 1.32 G). The ESI-MS and MS/MS spectra demonstrated that this radical was the DMPO/methoxyl radical adduct, not the peroxyl radical adduct as was thought at one time, although its ESR spectrum is nearly identical to that of the DMPO/superoxide radical adduct. Similarly, based on their MS/MS spectra, we verified that the second adducts (a(N) = 14.86 G and a(H)(beta) = 16.06 G in the reaction system containing t-butyl hydroperoxide and a(N) = 14.60 G and a(H)(beta) = 15.61 G in the reaction mixture containing cumene hydroperoxide), previously assigned as DMPO adducts of t-butyloxyl and cumyloxyl radical, were indeed from trapping t-butyloxyl and cumyloxyl radicals, respectively.     

Superoxide radical anion adduct of 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline n-oxide (DMPO). 1. The thermodynamics of formation and its acidity

The nitrone 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (DMPO) has been the most widely used spin trap for the detection of transient free radicals in chemical, biological, and biomedical research using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. A density functional theory (DFT) approach was used to predict the thermodynamics of formation of the superoxide anion/hydroperoxyl radical (O2*-/*O2H) adduct of DMPO as well as its pK(a) in aqueous systems. At the B3LYP/6-31+G(d,p)//B3LYP/6-31G(d) level, we predicted (in the gas phase and with a polarizable continuum model (PCM) for water) three conformational minima for both the DMPO-O2- and DMPO-O2H adducts. Using DFT and the PCM solvation method, the pK(a) of DMPO-O2H was predicted to be 14.9 +/- 0.5. On the basis of free energy considerations, the formation of DMPO-O2H at neutral pH proceeds via initial addition of O2*- to DMPO to form the DMPO-O2- adduct and then subsequent protonation by water (or other acidic sources) to form DMPO-O2H. Under acidic conditions, the addition of *O2H to DMPO is predicted to be more exoergic than the addition of O2*- and is consistent with available experimental kinetic data.     

Theoretical study of chemosensor for fluoride anion and optical properties of the derivatives of diketopyrrolopyrrole

Spin trapping of hydroperoxyl radical (HOO^·) by the amide-linked conjugate of 5-carbamoyl-5-methyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (AMPO) to β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) was studied computationally using a two-layered ONIOM method. From a conformational perspective, the “internal” conformation of 5R-β-CD-AMPO is more favored than the “external” conformation in which the nitrone is located outside of the cavity of the β-CD. When the HOO^· addition product is formed, the most stable isomer has the nitroxyl (N₁–O₁) moiety pointing inside the cavity of the β-CD. Thus, this “internal” conformation might protect the N₁–O₁ moiety of the resulting spin adduct from access by reducing agents, thereby improving the lifetime of the radical adduct. The computed energetic barrier for HOO^· addition to the 5R-β-CD-AMPO is 8.7?kcal/mol, which is marginally smaller than spin trapping by the non-conjugated AMPO (that is, without the β-CD). To optimize the reactivity of the β-CD-AMPO conjugate, the effect of a spacer unit between the AMPO segment and the β-CD moiety with varying methylene units, (CH₂) _n (n?=?1, 2, 3), on the energetics of HOO^· addition was evaluated. The structure with only one methylene spacer (n?=?1) appears to be optimal as determined by the smaller activation barrier (6.2?kcal/mol) for HOO^· addition to the nitrone moiety. Compared with very time-consuming quantum mechanical methods, the ONIOM method appears to offer significant advantages for evaluation of the best β-CD-AMPO conjugate for trapping of such reactive oxygen species and providing for the rational design of novel nitrones as spin traps.     

Effect of the phosphoryl substituent in the linear nitrone on the spin trapping of superoxide radical and the stability of the superoxide adduct: combined experimental and theoretical studies

A new phosphorylated linear nitrone N-(4-hydroxybenzyliene)-1-diethoxyphosphoryl-1-methylethylamine N-oxide (4-HOPPN) was synthesized, and its X-ray structure was determined. The spin trapping ability of various kinds of free radicals by 4-HOPPN was evaluated. Kinetic study of decay of the superoxide spin adduct (4-HOPPN-OOH) shows the half-life time of 8.8 min. On the basis of the X-ray structural coordinates, theoretical analyses using density functional theory (DFT) calculations at the B3LYP/6-31+G(d,p)//B3LYP/6-31G(d) level were performed on spin-trapping reactions of superoxide radical with 4-HOPPN and PBN and three possible decay routes for their corresponding superoxide adducts. The comparative calculations on the spin-trapping reactions with superoxide radical predicted that both spin traps share an identical reaction type and have comparable potency when spin trapping superoxide radical. Analysis of the optimized geometries of 4-HOPPN-OOH and PBN-OOH reveals that an introduction of the phosphoryl group can efficiently stabilize the spin adduct through the intramolecular H-bonds, the intramolecular nonbonding attractive interactions, as well as the bulky steric protection. Examination of the decomposition thermodynamics of 4-HOPPN-OOH and PBN-OOH further supports the stabilizing role of the phosphoryl group to a linear phosphorylated spin adduct.     

Improved spin trapping properties by beta-cyclodextrin-cyclic nitrone conjugate

Spin trapping using a nitrone and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy is commonly employed in the identification of transient radicals in chemical and biological systems. There has also been a growing interest in the pharmacological activity of nitrones, and there is, therefore, a pressing need to develop nitrones with improved spin trapping properties and controlled delivery in cellular systems. The beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD)-cyclic nitrone conjugate, 5-N-beta-cyclodextrin-carboxamide-5-methyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (CDNMPO) was synthesized and characterized. 1-D and 2-D NMR show two stereoisomeric forms (i.e., 5S- and 5R-) for CDNMPO. Spin trapping using CDNMPO shows distinctive EPR spectra for superoxide radical anion (O2(*-)) compared to other biologically relevant free radicals. Kinetic analysis of O2(*-) adduct formation and decay using singular value decomposition and pseudoinverse deconvolution methods gave an average bimolecular rate constant of k = 58 +/- 1 M(-1) s(-1) and a maximum half-life of t(1/2) = 27.5 min at pH 7.0. Molecular modeling was used to rationalize the long-range coupling between the nitrone and the beta-CD, as well as the stability of the O2(*-) adducts. This study demonstrates how a computational approach can aid in the design of spin traps with a relatively high rate of reactivity to O2(*-), and how beta-CD can improve adduct stability via intramolecular interaction with the O2(*-) adduct.     

Theoretical and experimental studies of the spin trapping of inorganic radicals by 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (DMPO). 2. Carbonate radical anion

Previous studies have shown that the enzyme-mediated generation of carbonate radical anion (CO(3)(.-)) may play an important role in the initiation of oxidative damage in cells. This study explored the thermodynamics of CO(3)(.-) addition to 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (DMPO) using density functional theory at the B3LYP/6-31+G(**)//B3LYP/6-31G* and B3LYP/6-311+G* levels with the polarizable continuum model to simulate the effect of the bulk dielectric effect of water on the calculated energetics. Theoretical data reveal that the addition of CO(3)(.-) to DMPO yields an O-centered radical adduct (DMPO-OCO2) as governed by the spin (density) population on the CO(3)(.-). Electron paramagnetic resonance spin trapping with the commonly used spin trap, DMPO, has been employed in the detection of CO(3)(.-). UV photolysis of H(2)O(2) and DMPO in the presence of sodium carbonate (Na(2)CO(3)) or sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO(3)) gave two species (i.e., DMPO-OCO(2) and DMPO-OH) in which the former has hyperfine splitting constant values of a(N) = 14.32 G, a(beta)-Eta = 10.68 G, and a(gamma-H) = 1.37 G and with a shorter half-life compared to DMPO-OH. The origin of the DMPO-OH formed was experimentally confirmed using isotopically enriched H(2)(17)O(2) that indicates direct addition of HO(.) to DMPO. Theoretical studies on other possible pathways for the formation of DMPO-OH from DMPO-OCO(2) in aqueous solution and in the absence of free HO(.) such as in the case of enzymatically generated CO(3)(.-), show that the preferred pathway is via nucleophilc substitution of the carbonate moiety by H(2)O or HO(-). Nitrite formation has been observed as the end product of CO(3)(.-) trapping by DMPO and is partly dependent on the basicity of solution. The thermodynamic behavior of CO(3)(.-) in the aqueous phase is predicted to be similar to that of the hydroperoxyl (HO(2)(.)) radical.     

Spin trapping of superoxide by diester-nitrones

The nitrone N-[(1-oxidopyridin-1-ium-4-yl)-methylidene]-1,1-bis(ethoxycarbonyl)ethylamine N-oxide (DEEPyON) was synthesized and used as a spin trapping agent. The kinetic aspects of the superoxide detection by this new spin trap and by two other diester-nitrones, i.e. 2,2-diethoxycarbonyl-3,4-dihydro-2H-pyrrole-1-oxide (DEPO) and N-benzylidene-1,1-bis(ethoxycarbonyl)ethylamine N-oxide (DEEPN), were examined by determining the rate constants for the trapping reaction and for the spin adduct decay at pH 7.2. Comparing the results obtained to those given by analogous monoester-nitrones showed that both the spin trapping and the adduct decay reactions were faster in the presence of a second ester group in the cyclic nitrone series, while the superoxide trapping capacities of linear diester-nitrones were found to be dramatically weak. It follows from this study that DEPO and 2-ethoxycarbonyl-2-methyl-3,4-dihydro-2H-pyrrole-1-oxide (EMPO) are superior when it comes to superoxide detection. Below 0.005 mol dm(-3), DEPO is to date the only nitrone capable of clearly detecting superoxide, while EMPO should be preferred at higher spin trap concentration.     

Theoretical and experimental studies of the spin trapping of inorganic radicals by 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (DMPO). 3. Sulfur dioxide, sulfite, and sulfate radical anions

Radical forms of sulfur dioxide (SO(2)), sulfite (SO(3)(2-)), sulfate (SO(4)(2-)), and their conjugate acids are known to be generated in vivo through various chemical and biochemical pathways. Oxides of sulfur are environmentally pervasive compounds and are associated with a number of health problems. There is growing evidence that their toxicity may be mediated by their radical forms. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spin trapping using the commonly used spin trap, 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (DMPO), has been employed in the detection of SO(3)(?-) and SO(4)(?-). The thermochemistries of SO(2)(?-), SO(3)(?-), SO(4)(?-), and their respective conjugate acids addition to DMPO were predicted using density functional theory (DFT) at the PCM/B3LYP/6-31+G**//B3LYP/6-31G* level. No spin adduct was observed for SO(2)(?-) by EPR, but an S-centered adduct was observed for SO(3)(?-)and an O-centered adduct for SO(4)(?-). Determination of adducts as S- or O-centered was made via comparison based on qualitative trends of experimental hfcc's with theoretical values. The thermodynamics of the nonradical addition of SO(3)(2-) and HSO(3)(-) to DMPO followed by conversion to the corresponding radical adduct via the Forrester-Hepburn mechanism was also calculated. Adduct acidities and decomposition pathways were investigated as well, including an EPR experiment using H(2)(17)O to determine the site of hydrolysis of O-centered adducts. The mode of radical addition to DMPO is predicted to be governed by several factors, including spin population density, and geometries stabilized by hydrogen bonds. The thermodynamic data supports evidence for the radical addition pathway over the nucleophilic addition mechanism.     

Superoxide dismutase versus ferricytochrome C: determining rate constants for the spin trapping of superoxide by cyclic nitrones

Given that spin trapping/electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy has become the primary technique to identify important biologically generated free radicals, such as superoxide (O(2)(*-)), in vitro and in vivo models, evaluation of the efficiency of specific spin traps to identify this free radical is paramount. Recently, a family of ester-containing nitrones has been prepared, which appears to have distinct advantages for spin trapping O(2)(*-) compared to the well-studied spin traps 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide 1 and 5-(diethoxyphosphoryl)-5-methyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide 2. An important determinant in the selection of a spin trap is the rate constant (k(app)) for its reaction with O(2)(*-), and several different methods have been employed in estimating this k(app). In this paper, the two most frequently used scavengers of O(2)(*-), ferricytochrome c and Cu/Zn-SOD, were evaluated as competitive inhibitors for spin trapping this free radical. Data presented herein demonstrate that SOD is the preferred compound when determining the k(app) for the reaction of O(2)(*-) with spin traps. Using this model, the k(app) for the reaction of nitrone 1, 5-tert-butoxycarbonyl-5-methyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide 3, and 5-methoxycarbonyl-5-methyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide 4 with O(2)(*)(-) was estimated to be 24.6 +/- 3.1, 73.0 +/- 12, and 89.4 +/- 1.0 M(-1) s(-1) at pH 7.0, respectively. Several other comparative studies between known spin traps were also undertaken.     

A new kinetic approach to the evaluation of rate constants for the spin trapping of superoxide/hydroperoxyl radical by nitrones in aqueous media

A new kinetic approach to the evaluation of rate constants for the spin trapping of superoxide/hydroperoxyl radical by nitrones in buffered media is described. This method is based on a competition between the superoxide trapping by the nitrone and the spontaneous dismutation of this radical in aqueous media. EPR spectra are recorded as a function of time at various nitrone concentrations, and kinetic curves are obtained after treatment of these spectra using both singular value decomposition and pseudo-inverse deconvolution methods. Modelling these curves permits the determination of the rate constants k(T) and k(D) for the superoxide trapping and the adduct decay reactions, respectively. Kinetics parameters thus obtained with six nitrones, namely the 2-ethoxycarbonyl-2-methyl-3,4-dihydro-2H-pyrrole N-oxide (EMPO), the 5-diethoxyphosphoryl-5-methyl-3,4-dihydro-5H-pyrrole N-oxide (DEPMPO), the 5,5-dimethyl-3,4-dihydro-5H-pyrrole N-oxide (DMPO), the 1,3,5-tri[(N-(1-diethylphosphono)-1-methylethyl)-N-oxy-aldimine]benzene (TN), the N-benzylidene-1-ethoxycarbonyl-1-methylethylamine N-oxide (EPPN), and the N-[(1-oxidopyridin-1-ium-4-yl)methylidene]-1-ethoxycarbonyl-1-methylethylamine N-oxide (EPPyON), indicate that cyclic nitrones trapped superoxide faster than the linear ones. However, the low k(T) values obtained for compounds show that there is still a need for new molecules with better spin trapping capacities.     

Superoxide radical anion adduct of 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (DMPO). 2. The thermodynamics of decay and EPR spectral properties

The formation of the superoxide radical anion (O2*-) adduct of the nitrone 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (DMPO) as detected by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy is one of the most common techniques for O2*- detection in chemical and biological systems. However, the nature of DMPO-O2H has confounded spin-trapping investigators over the years, since there has been no independently synthesized DMPO-O2H to date. A density functional theory (DFT) approach was used to predict the isotropic hyperfine coupling constants arising from the N, beta-H, and gamma-H nuclei of DMPO-O2H using explicit interactions with water molecules as well as via a bulk dielectric effect employing the polarizable continuum model (PCM). Theoretical calculation on the thermodynamics of DMPO-O2H decay shows favorable intramolecular rearrangement to form a nitrosoaldehyde and a hydroxyl radical as products, consistent with experimental observations. Some pathways for the bimolecular decomposition of DMPO-O2H and DMPO-OH have also been computed.     

Theoretical and experimental studies of the spin trapping of inorganic radicals by 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (DMPO). 1. Carbon dioxide radical anion

The carbon dioxide radical anion (CO2*-) is known to be generated in vivo through various chemical and biochemical pathways. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spin trapping with the commonly used spin trap, 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (DMPO), has been employed in the detection of CO2*-. The thermodynamics of CO2*- addition to DMPO was predicted using density functional theory (DFT) at the B3LYP/6-31++G**//B3LYP/6-31G* and B3LYP/6-311+G* levels with the polarizable continuum model (PCM) to simulate the effect of the bulk dielectric effect of water on the calculated energetics. Three possible products of CO2*- addition to DMPO were predicted: (1) a carboxylate adduct, (2) pyrroline-alcohol and (3) DMPO-OH. Experimentally, UV photolysis of H2O2 in the presence of sodium formate (NaHCO2) and DMPO gave an EPR spectrum characteristic of a C-centered carboxylate adduct and is consistent with the theoretically derived hyperfine coupling constants (hfcc). The pKa of the carboxylate adduct was estimated computationally to be 6.4. The mode of CO2*- addition to DMPO is predicted to be governed predominantly by the spin (density) population on the radical, whereas electrostatic effects are not the dominant factor for the formation of the persistent adduct. The thermodynamic behavior of CO2*- in the aqueous phase is predicted to be similar to that of mercapto radical (*SH), indicating that formation of CO2*- in biological systems may have an important role in the initiation of oxidative damage in cells.     

Nitrones are suitable ligands for heme models: X-ray crystal structure of the first metalloporphyrin nitrone complex

The metalloporphyrin nitrone complexes [M(oep)-(CO)(DMPO)] (M = Ru, Os; oep = octaethylporphyrinato dianion; DMPO = 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide) have been prepared: the crystal structure of the Ru complex reveals a sole eta 1-O binding mode of the nitrone ligand to the metal center.     

Superoxide radical anion adduct of 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (DMPO). 3. Effect of mildly acidic pH on the thermodynamics and kinetics of adduct formation

The nitrone, 5,5-dimethylpyrroline N-oxide (DMPO), is a commonly used spin trap for the detection of superoxide radical anion (O2*-) using electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. This work investigates the reactivity of DMPO to O2*- in mildly acidic pH (5.0-7.0). Mild acidity is characteristic of acidosis and has been observed in hypoxic systems, e.g., ischemic organs and cancer cells. Although the established pKa for O2*- is 4.8, the pKa for DMPO is unknown. The pKa of the conjugate acid of DMPO was determined to be 6.0 using potentiometric, spectrophotometric, 1H and 13C NMR, and computational methods. 1H and 13C NMR were employed to investigate the site of protonation. An alternative mechanism for the spin trapping of O2*- in mildly acidic pH was proposed, which involves protonation of the oxygen to form the N-hydroxy imino cation and subsequent addition of O2*-. The exoergicity of O2*- addition to protonated DMPO was rationalized using density functional theory (DFT) at the PCM/B3LYP/6-31+G**//B3LYP/6-31G* level of theory.     

Is there stereoselectivity in spin trapping superoxide by 5-tert-butoxycarbonyl-5-methyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide?

[reaction: see text] Ester-containing nitrones, including 5-tert-butoxycarbonyl-5-methyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide 5, have been reported to be robust spin traps for superoxide (O2*-). Using a chiral column, we have been able to isolate the two enantiomers of nitrone 5. With enantiomerically pure nitrone 5a and 5b we explored whether one of these isomers was solely responsible for the EPR spectrum of aminoxyl 6. Data obtained demonstrate that the spin trapping of O2*- by nitrone 5a and nitrone 5b affords the identical EPR spectra and lifetimes in homogeneous aqueous solution and exhibits the same ratio of cis and trans isomers. Quantum chemical modeling in vacuo also finds no difference, aside from the expected optical activity, arising from the difference in stereochemistry.     

Nitric oxide release from the unimolecular decomposition of the superoxide radical anion adduct of cyclic nitrones in aqueous medium

Nitrones such as 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (DMPO), 5-diethoxyphosphoryl-5-methyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (DEPMPO) and 5-ethoxycarbonyl-5-methyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (EMPO) have become the spin-traps of choice for the detection of transient radical species in chemical and biological systems using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. The mechanism of decomposition of the superoxide radical anion (O2(.-)) adducts of DMPO, DEPMPO and EMPO in aqueous solutions was investigated. Our findings suggest that nitric oxide (NO) was formed during the decomposition of the O2(.-) adduct as detected by EPR spin trapping using Fe(II)N-methyl-d-glucamine dithiocarbamate (MGD). Nitric oxide release was observed from the O2(.-) adduct formed from hypoxanthine-xanthine oxidase, PMA-activated human neutrophils, and DMSO solution of KO2. Nitric oxide formation was not observed from the independently generated hydroxyl radical adduct. Formation of nitric oxide was also indirectly detected as nitrite (NO2(.-)) utilizing the Griess assay. Nitrite concentration increases with increasing O2(.-) concentration at constant DMPO concentration, while NO2(.-) formation is suppressed at anaerobic conditions. Moreover, large excess of DMPO also inhibits NO2(.-) formation which can be attributed to the oxidation of DMPO to hydroxamic acid nitroxide (DMPO-X) by nitrogen dioxide (NO2), a precursor to NO2(.-). Product analysis was also conducted to further elucidate the mechanism of adduct decay using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) technique.     

The fidelity of spin trapping with DMPO in biological systems

Unlike direct ESR, spin trap methodology depends on the absolute fidelity of the spin trap reaction. Two alternative reactions of 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (DMPO) leading to radical adduct artifacts have been discovered and investigated: inverted spin trapping and the Forrester-Hepburn nucleophilic mechanism. These two alternate pathways to radical adducts are a combination of one-electron oxidation and nucleophilic addition, in either order. In biological systems, serious artifacts have been reported due to the Forrester-Hepburn mechanism, which is initiated by the addition of a nucleophile to DMPO. It has recently been demonstrated that (bi)sulfite (hydrated sulfur dioxide) can react with DMPO via a nonradical, nucleophilic reaction, and it has been further proposed that DMPO/(?)SO(3)(-) formation in biological systems is an artifact and not the result of spin trapping of sulfur trioxide anion radical ((?)SO(3)(-)). The one-electron oxidation of (bi)sulfite catalyzed by horseradish peroxidase (HRP)/hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) has been reinvestigated by ESR spin trapping with DMPO and oxygen uptake studies to obtain further evidence for the radical reaction mechanism. In the absence of DMPO, the initial rate of (bi)sulfite-dependent oxygen and H(2)O(2) consumption was determined to be half of the initial rate of DMPO/(?)SO(3)(-) radical adduct formation as determined by ESR, demonstrating that, under our experimental conditions, DMPO exclusively forms the radical adduct by trapping the (?)SO(3)(-).