SPECTROSCOPIC STUDIES OF CUTANEOUS PHOTOSENSITIZING AGENTS—I. SPIN TRAPPING OF PHOTOLYSIS PRODUCTS FROM SULFANILAMIDE, 4-AMINOBENZOIC ACID AND RELATED COMPOUNDS

The photodecomposition of sulfanilamide, 4-aminobenzoic acid and other related analogs has been studied with the aid of the spin trap 2-methyl-2-nitrosopropane. UV photolysis of an aqueous solution of sulfanilamide yielded the following radicals C˙₆H₄SO₂NH₂, C₆H₅SO_2˙, S˙O₂NH₂ and SO^-_#˙ (or SO^-_2dot;). Under the same conditions 4-aminobenzoic acid gave C˙₆H₄COOH. In addition both sulfanilamide and 4-aminobenzoic acid, but not 4-dimethylaminobenzoic acid, generated e^-_aq or hydrogen atoms during UV irradiation. The C₆H₄SO₂NH₂ radical was also produced by photolysis of 4-iodobenzenesul-fonamide and 4-nitrobenzenesulfonamide. The C₆H₄COOH radical was generated by photolysis of 4-nitrobenzoic acid and 4-iodobenzoic acid. Finally the C₆H₄NO₂ radical was formed during the irradiation of 4-nitroaniline, 1,4-dinitrobenzene and 4-iodonitrobenzene. The free radicals generated by sulfanilamide and 4-aminobenzoic acid may play an important role in the phototoxic and photoallergic responses elicited by these drugs in certain individuals.