4-amino- and 4-nitrodipicolinatovanadium(V) complexes and their hydroxylamido derivatives: synthesis, aqueous, and solid-state properties

A number of 4-substituted, dipicolinatodioxovanadium(V) complexes and their hydroxylamido derivatives were synthesized to characterize the solid state and solution properties of five- and seven-coordinate vanadium(V) complexes. The X-ray crystal structures of Na[VO2dipic-NH2].2H2O (2) and K[VO2dipic-NO2] (3) show the vanadium adopting a distorted, trigonal-bipyramidal coordination environment similar to the parent coordination complex, [VO2dipic]- (1), reported previously as the Cs+ salt. The observed differences in the chemical shifts of the complexes both in the 1H (ca. 0.7-1.4 ppm) and 51V (ca. 1-11 ppm) NMR spectra were consistent with the electron-donating or electron-withdrawing properties of the substituent groups, respectively. Stoichiometric addition of a series of hydroxylamine ligands (H2NOH, MeHNOH, Me2NOH, and Et2NOH) to complexes 1-3 led to the formation of seven-coordinate vanadium(V) complexes. The X-ray crystal structure of [VO(dipic)(Me2NO)(H2O)].0.5H2O (1c) was found to be similar to the previously characterized complexes [VO(dipic)(H2NO)(H2O)] (1a) and [VO(dipic)(OO-tBu)(H2O)]. While only slight differences in the 1H NMR spectra were observed upon addition of the hydroxylamido ligand, the signals in the 51V NMR spectra change by up to 100 ppm. The addition of the hydroxylamido ligand increased the complex stability of complexes 2 and 3. Evidence for a nonstoichiometric redox reaction was found for the monoalkyl hydroxylamine ligand. The reaction of an unsaturated five-coordinate species with a hydroxylamine to form a seven-coordinate vanadium complex will, in general, dramatically increase the amounts of the vanadium compound that remain intact at pH values near neutral.     

Deprotonation/protonation of coordinated secondary thioamide units of pincer ruthenium complexes: modulation of voltammetric and spectroscopic characterization of the pincer complexes

New pincer ruthenium complexes, [Ru(SCS)(tpy)]PF(6) (1) (SCS = 2,6-bis(benzylaminothiocarbonyl)phenyl), tpy = 2,2':6',2'-terpyridyl) and [Ru(SNS)(tpy)]PF(6) (2) (SNS = 2,5-bis(benzylaminothiocarbonyl)pyrrolyl), having κ(3)SCS and κ(3)SNS pincer ligands with two secondary thioamide units were synthesized by the reactions of [RuCl(3)(tpy)] with N,N'-dibenzyl-1,3-benzenedicarbothioamide (L1) and N,N'-dibenzyl-2,5-1H-pyrroledicarbothioamide (L2), respectively, and their chemical and electrochemical properties were elucidated. The structure of 1 was determined by X-ray crystallography. The complexes 1 and 2 showed a two-step deprotonation reaction by treatment with 1,8-diazabicyclo[5,4,0]undec-7-ene (DBU), and the addition of DBU led to a shift of the metal-centered redox couples to a lower potential by 720 and 550 mV, respectively. The di-deprotonated complexes were also studied by (1)H-NMR and UV-vis spectroscopy. The addition of methanesulfonic acid (MSA) to the di-deprotonated complexes enabled the recovery of 1 and 2, indicating that the thioamide moiety underwent a reversible deprotonation-protonation process, which resulted in regulating the redox potentials of the metal center. The Pourbaix diagram of 1 revealed that 1 underwent a one-proton/one-electron transfer process in the pH range of 5.83-10.35, and a two-proton/one-electron process at a pH of over 10.35, indicating that the deprotonation/protonation process of the complexes is related to proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET).     

Impact of ligand protonation on higher-order metal complexation kinetics in aqueous systems

The impact of ligand protonation on the complexation kinetics of higher-order complexes is quantitatively described. The theory is formulated on the basis of the usual situation for metal complex formation in aqueous systems in which the exchange of water for the ligand in the inner coordination sphere is rate-determining (Eigen mechanism). We derive expressions for the general case of lability of ML(n) species that account for the contributions from all outer-sphere complexes to the rate of complex formation. For dynamic complexes, dissociation of ML is usually the rate-determining step in the overall process ML(n) --> M. Under such conditions, it is the role of ligand protonation in the step ML --> M that is relevant for the kinetic flux. 1:2 complexes of Cd(II) with pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid fall into this category, and their lability at a microelectrode is reasonably well predicted by the differentiated approach. For non-dynamic systems, the kinetic flux arising from dissociation of higher-order complexes contributes to the rate-determining step. In this case, the weighted contribution of protonated and unprotonated outer-sphere complexes in all contributing dissociation reactions must be taken into account. The kinetic flux arising from the dissociation of 1:2 complexes of Ni(II) with bicine at a conventional electrode was quite well described by this combined approach. The results establish the generic role of ligand protonation within the overall framework of metal complexation kinetics in which complexes may be dynamic to an extent that depends on the operational time scale of the measurement technique.     

Kinetico-mechanistic studies of the acidolysis of Rh-C bonds in monocyclometallated dirhodium(II) acetato complexes; influence of electronic and steric effects

The protonation/demetallation reaction, in CD(3)COOD, of phosphine monometallated triacetato-bridged dirhodium(ii) complexes of general formulae [Rh(2)(μ-OOCCH(3))(3){(RC(5)CH(3))P(RC(6)H(4))(2)}(2)] has been studied from a kinetico-mechanistic perspective. The process has been monitored via the disappearance of the nuclear magnetic resonance signals of the protons present in the non-metallated ortho positions of the phosphine ligand and taking advantage of the relatively fast back metallation process that follows the acidolysis reaction, the sequence behaving as an overall equilibrium reaction. The process has a high associative character with important entropy demands, increasing both for the larger and the more electron withdrawing phosphine ligands. For the complexes with electron withdrawing CF(3) substituents on the cyclometallated phenyl ring, this demand is compensated by very low activation enthalpies. The data agree with an intimate mechanism that corresponds to the reverse of the electrophilic C-H bond activation, which has already been studied for this type of system, and requires the presence of a protonated acetato ligand in the axial position, close to the metallated Rh-C(aromatic) bond. The involvement of external solvent molecules, interacting via hydrogen bonds with the system, is also evident for systems which include CF(3) groups with the correct geometric arrangement.     

亲核试剂在正离子聚合反应中的作用及其作用机理的研究

研究了亲核试剂对IB 1 ,3 二 (2 氯异丙基 )苯 (DiCumCl) TiCl4体系正离子聚合反应的规律 ,亲核试剂与增长的碳正离子作用的紫外光谱图 ;采用分子模拟 ,利用量子力学半经验方法计算了亲核试剂与质子反应的活化能 ,确定了不同亲核试剂与质子的作用能力 ;利用分子力学方法计算了在增长碳正离子末端的不同位置亲核试剂与之络合的稳定化能 ,根据能量最低原则确定了亲核试剂在碳正离子链端的作用位置 ;利用分子力学方法进行构象优化后 ,借助QEq方法得到了聚异丁烯碳正离子和聚苯乙烯碳正离子的电荷数值 .综合以上实验结果提出了亲核试剂在正离子聚合反应中的作用及其作用机理     

Stability and kinetics of the acid-promoted decomposition of Cu(II) complexes with hexaazacyclophanes: kinetic studies as a probe to detect changes in the coordination mode of the macrocycles

The synthesis, protonation and Cu(II) coordination features of the novel azacyclophane type receptors 2,6,10,13,17,21-hexaza[22]-(2,6)-pyridinophane (L2), 2,6,9,12,15,19-hexaza[20]-(2,6)-pyridinophane (L5) and 2,6,9,12,15,19-hexaza[20]metacyclophane (L6) are presented. The protonation and Cu(II) constants are analysed and compared with the previously reported open-chain polyamines 4,8,11,15-tetrazaoctadecane-1,18-diamine (L1) and 4,7,10,13-tetraazahexadecane-1,16-diamine (L4) and of the cyclophane 2,6,10,13,17,21-hexaaza[22]paracyclophane (L3). All the systems form mono- and dinuclear complexes whose stability and pH range of existence depend on the type of hydrocarbon chains and molecular topology. The effects of the cyclic or open-chain nature and of the presence of the pyridine rings on the protonation and formation of mono- and dinuclear complexes are discussed. Stopped-flow kinetic measurements on the acid-promoted decomposition of the Cu(II) complexes have been carried out for the different systems. With respect to the decomposition of the dinuclear complexes, because the size of the macrocycles forces both metal ions to be close to each other, the release of the first ion occurs within the mixing time of the stopped-flow except for the dinuclear complexes of L2. However, the most interesting kinetic result is the observation of different kinetics of decomposition for the different mononuclear complexes formed by a given ligand. This effect is especially evident for L3 and L6 and indicates a change in the coordination mode of the ligand for the different mononuclear species. Therefore the Cu(II) ion performs a slippage motion through the macrocyclic cavity driven by pH changes. The stopped-flow experiments are an excellent tool to detect these slippage processes that may be present for the complexes with other macrocycles.     

Synthesis,characterization and coordination chemistry of the new tetraazamacrocycle 4,10-dimethyl-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,7-bis(methanephosphonic acid monoethyl ester) dipotassium salt

A new potentially hexadentate tetraazamacrocycle based on the cyclen skeleton has been synthesized and fully characterized. The macrocycle 4,10-dimethyl-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,7-bis(methanephosphonic acid monoethyl ester) dipotassium salt (Me2DO2PME) contains mutually trans monoethyl ester phosphonate acid substituents on two nitrogen atoms, and trans methyl substituents on the other two nitrogen atoms. The protonation constants of this macrocycle and the stability constants of its complexes with Cu2+, Zn2+, Gd3+ and Ca2+ ions have been determined by pH potentiometric titrations. The protonation sequence of the macrocycle has been studied by 1H, 31P[1H] and 13C[1H] NMR spectroscopy: the first and second protonation steps take place at the methyl-substituted nitrogen atoms, while the third protonation involves one oxygen from a phosphonate group. Upon protonation, all the CH2 ring protons become magnetically inequivalent on the NMR time scale due to a slow conformational rearrangement, most likely occasioned by the formation of multiple hydrogen bonds within the macrocyclic ring. Me2DOPM forms neutral, mononuclear complexes with all the metals investigated. The presence of hydroxo complexes was observed for Ca2+ and Zn2+ at high pH values. Structural information on the neutral complex [Cu(Me2DO2PME)] has been obtained by a solution X-Band EPR study. It is proposed that Me2DO2PME binds Cu2+ in a distorted octahedral structure using all of its donor atoms, i.e. the four nitrogen atoms and the two phosphonate oxygen atoms. The redox chemistry of [Cu(Me2DO2PME)] in dimethyl sulfoxide and water has been studied by electrochemical measurements. Cyclic voltammetry in DMSO shows the complex to undergo a quasireversible one-electron reduction step leading to an unstable CuI species.     

碱土金属与DBC-偶氮氯膦配位反应及配合物结构的研究

本文研究了DBC-偶氮氯膦在不同酸度下的存在形式、质子化情况及反应中的质子释放情况, 测定了钙、锶、钡与其形成的配合物的稳定常数。利用红外、激光Raman、核磁共振光谱等对所生成的配合物的结构进行了研究, 并根据实验结果和分子结构的几咱理论, 提出了碱土金属与其生成的配合物的结构。本文还就配位反应和配合物的成键情况进行了讨论。     

紫外-可见分光光度法测定溴代卟啉的质子化反应常数

采用紫外-可见分光光度法研究了溴代卟啉(H2TPPBrx)在N,N-二甲基甲酰胺(DMF)中的吸收光谱性质,并测定了其在非水溶剂DMF中与HClO4反应的质子化常数。结果表明H2TPP,H2TPPBr2在DMF溶剂中与高氯酸反应得到两个质子生成[H4TPP]2 和[H4TPPBrx]2 ,而H2TPPBr3,H2TPPBr4只能得到一个质子生成[H4TPPBrx] 和[H4TPPBrx] ,其质子化常数分别为:lgK1=3.28,lgK2=2.86,lgK3=2.16,lgK4=1.93。     

A Novel Thermocell System Using Proton Solvation Entropy

The entropy change associated with proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) reactions significantly enhance the Seebeck coefficient (S_e) of thermocells. A redox pair of [Ru(H_xim)₆]^2+/3+ (Him=imidazole, x=0≈1) releases three protons in their one-electron redox reactions in thermocells, which gave a remarkably high S_e of −3.7 mV K⁻¹ as confirmed by temperature-dependent square wave voltammetry. The value of S_e is proportional to the redox reaction entropy (ΔS_rc), which increased with the number of dissociating protons. This result demonstrates the utility of PCET reaction toward efficient thermoelectric conversion.     

Mixed-ligand Copper(II) Complexes: Investigation of their Spectroscopic, Catalysis, Antimicrobial and Potentiometric Properties

Schiff base ligands HL¹–HL⁶ have been prepared from the reaction of 2,6-diformyl-4-t-butylphenol and 2,6-di-formyl-4-methylphenol with various aromatic amines in ethanolic solution. The Schiff base ligands 2,2′-dipyridine (dp) mixed-ligand Cu^II complexes have been obtained. Mixed-ligand Cu^II complexes containing the dp ligand have ionic nature and they conduct the electricity in solution media. The complexes have been obtained in two different forms: one of them is [Cu₂(Lⁿ)Cl₃] (n: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6) and other complexes have the general formula [Cu₂(Lⁿ)(dp)₂]3Cl. Ligands and their complexes have been characterized by elemental analyses, FT-IR, electronic spectra, molar conductance, ¹H(¹³C)-n.m.r. and mass spectral data. Their stoichiometric protonation constants have been determined potentiometrically in dioxan using a combined pH electrode at 25 °C, under a nitrogen atmosphere. For the calculation of the protonation constants, PKAS computer programme has been used. The effects of the substituents on the protonation constants and the additivities of these effects are discussed. The antimicrobial activity studies of the ligands and their complexes have been studied against the Bacillus megaterium, Micrococcus luteus, Corynebavterium xenosis, Enterococcuc faecalis, bacteria and Saccoramyces cerevisia, yeast. The catalytic properties of the complexes have been studied on the ascorbic acid, catechol and 2,6-di-t-butylphenol substrates. Thermal behaviour of the complexes has been studied by thermal techniques.     

Resolution of seven-coordinate complexes

The crystal structures of [Pr(dbm)3H2O] (1), [Sm(dbm)3H2O] (2), and [Er(dbm)3H2O] (3) have been determined (dbm=dibenzoylmethane). They display seven-coordinate propeller-shaped molecules, which are chiral and crystallize as conglomerates in space group R3. Analysis of the crystal structures reveals supramolecular interactions, including formation of a quadruple helix, which explain how stereochemical information can be transferred between stacks of molecules. A method to quantify the ee in bulk samples of stereochemically labile compounds by using solid-state CD spectroscopy is described. Using this method, it has been shown that compounds 1-3 undergo total spontaneous resolution directly after synthesis, forming a microcrystalline reaction product that is essentially enantiopure. The resolution of bulk quantities of seven-coordinate complexes (without chiral or polydentate ligands) is thus reported for the first time. Because the crystallization starts without seeding, the overall preparation may be regarded as absolute asymmetric synthesis.     

立体化学刚性的七配位环戊二烯基三(二苄基二硫代氨基甲酸)钛、锆、铪配合物的合成和性质

二烷基二硫代氨基甲酸基作为良好的双齿配体较易与过渡金属生成高配位的配合物,含有环戊二烯基的高配位钛、锆、铪配合物的研究相继出现,这类七配位、18-电子构型的配合物是立体化学刚性,具有独特的光谱性质和结构行为。选择钛、锆和铪二茂二氯化物与三当量的二苄基二硫代氨基甲酸钠反应合成了五种未见报道的七配位配合物,讨论了产物的光谱性质和配位结构。     

Electroreduction of the ruthenium complex [(bpy)2Ru(tatpp)]Cl2 in water: insights on the mechanism of multielectron reduction and protonation of the Tatpp acceptor ligand as a function of pH

The mononuclear ruthenium complex [(bpy) 2Ru(tatpp)] (2+) ( 1 (2+); bpy is 2,2'-bipyridine and tatpp is 9,11,20,22-tetra-aza-tetrapyrido[3,2-a:2'3'-c:3',2'-l:2',3']-pentacene) undergoes up to four reversible tatpp ligand-based reductions as determined by electrochemistry in aqueous solution. Specific redox and protonation states of this complex were generated by stoichiometric chemical reduction with cobaltocene and protonation with trifluoroacetic acid in acetonitrile. These species exhibit unique UV-visible absorption spectra, which are used to determine the speciation in aqueous media as a function of the potential during the electrochemical reduction. A combination of cyclic voltammetry, differential pulse voltammetry, and spectroelectrochemistry showed that the voltammetric reduction peaks are associated with two-electron/two-proton processes in which the details of stepwise electron transfer and protonation steps vary as a function of the pH. Spectroelectrochemistry performed during potential scans with and without a small superimposed sinusoidal potential waveform was used to examine the mechanistic details of this proton-coupled multielectron reduction process. Under basic conditions, the radical [(bpy) 2Ru(tatpp (*-))] (+)( 1 (*+)) is the first electrogenerated species that converts to doubly reduced, single-protonated [(bpy) 2Ru(Htatpp-)] (+) (H 1 (+)) and doubly protonated [(bpy) 2Ru(H 2tatpp)] (2+)(H 2 1 (2+)) by subsequent electron-transfer (ET) and proton-transfer (PT) reactions. Partial dimerization of radical 1 (*+) is also observed in basic media. Neutral or acidic conditions favor an initial ET-PT reaction leading to the protonated, radical species [(bpy) 2Ru(Htatpp (*))] (2+) (H 1 (*2+)), which rapidly disproportionates to give 1 (2+) and H 2 1 (2+). This intermediate, H 1 (*2+), is only observed when potential modulation is used in the spectroelectrochemical experiment. At more negative potentials, the doubly reduced complexes (e.g., H 2 1 (2+), H 1 (+)) undergo a two-electron/two-proton reductions to give the quadruply reduced and protonated species H 4 1 (2+) and/or H 3 1 (+) throughout the pH range investigated. These species are also only detectable when potential modulation is used in the spectroelectrochemical experiment, as they rapidly comproportionate with 1 (2+) in the bulk, leading to the regeneration of intermediate double-reduced species, H 2 1 (2+).     

Nickel(II) complexes of 21-C-alkylated inverted porphyrins: synthesis,protonation, and redox properties

Reaction of the nickel(II) complex of an inverted porphyrin, (5,10,15,20-tetraphenyl-2-aza-21-carbaporphyrinato)nickel(II) (1), with haloalkanes in the presence of proton scavengers yields 21-C-alkylated complexes. The products are separated and characterized spectroscopically. Chirality of the formed substituted metalloporphyrins is discussed on the basis of the (1)H NMR spectra. Diastereomers are observed for the complexes containing chiral substituents. Protonation of the external nitrogen of the inverted pyrrole is combined with coordination of the apical ligand that leads to paramagnetic nickel(II) complexes. Very strong differentiation of the isotropic shift for diastereotopic methylene protons is observed in (1)H NMR spectra of the protonated paramagnetic species. For the systems containing benzyl, allyl, and ethoxymethyl substituents a mild dealkylation in solution of protonated complexes is observed in the presence of oxygen. Redox properties of the alkylated complexes are studied by means of cyclic voltammetry. Oxidation of the nickel center in 21-alkylated systems takes place at the potentials comparable to that of unsubstituted complex 1. Protonation introduces small changes to the potential of the Ni(II)/Ni(III) redox couple, but it stabilizes nickel(I) species. Products of chemical oxidation and reduction of the alkylated complexes are detected by means of the EPR spectroscopy indicating in both cases metal-centered redox processes.     

Studies on dilute solutions of rodlike macroions. I. Light scattering,densitometry, and cryoscopy

Total integrated and photon correlation light scattering have been used to study two samples of poly(1,4-phenylene-2,6-benzobisthiazole) (PBT) representing two methods of precipitation to recover the polymer from the polymerization solvent. Some details of the light-scattering instrument are given. It is found that the PBT sample is rodlike, with persistence length of at least 50 nm, but that the postpolymerization processing method influences the state of interchain aggregation. The data are augmented by measurements of freezing-point depression to estimate the degree of protonation of PBT in sulfuric acid, and by measurements of partial specific volume to provide an estimate for the geometric diameter of the chain in solution. The results show a degree of protonation of 2–4 protons per repeating unit, and partial specific volumes that are appreciably smaller than the specific volume determined for the polymers. Similar data and results are reported for poly(1,4-phenyl-ene-2,6-benzobisoxazole) and poly(1,4-phenylene terephthalamide).     

七配位二聚体配合物{(PhCH2)2Sn·[2,6-(O2C)2C5H3N](CH3OH)}2的合成及结构

在三乙胺存在下利用三苄基氯化锡和2,6-吡啶二甲酸,以1:1摩尔比反应,合成了七配位二聚体{(PhCH2)2Sn[2,6-(O2C)2C5H3N](CH3OH)}2.通过元素分析、红外光谱和核磁共振氢谱对其结构进行了表征.用X射线单晶衍射法测定了该化合物的晶体结构.化合物为三斜晶系,P1空间群,晶胞参数a=0.9625(6)nm,b=1.0947(9)nm,c=1.996(3)nm,α=90.00(2)°,β=87.69(3)°,γ=90.00(3)°,Z=2,V=2.102(6)nm3,μ=1.248mm-1,F(000)=1000,R1=0.0476,wR2=0.0782.化合物中2个锡原子呈七配位畸变五角双锥构型.生物活性测试结果表明,该化合物具有较强的体外抗肿瘤活性.     

Gas‐phase doubly charged complexes of cyclic peptides with copper in +1, +2 and +3 formal oxidation states: formation,structures and electron capture dissociation

Copper complexes with a cyclic D‐His‐β‐Ala‐L‐His‐L‐Lys and all‐L‐His‐β‐Ala‐His‐Lys peptides were generated by electrospray which were doubly charged ions that had different formal oxidation states of Cu(I), Cu(II) and Cu(III) and different protonation states of the peptide ligands. Electron capture dissociation showed no substantial differences between the D‐His and L‐His complexes. All complexes underwent peptide cross‐ring cleavages upon electron capture. The modes of ring cleavage depended on the formal oxidation state of the Cu ion and peptide protonation. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations, using the B3LYP with an effective core potential at Cu and M06‐2X functionals, identified several precursor ion structures in which the Cu ion was threecoordinated to pentacoordinated by the His and Lys side‐chain groups and the peptide amide or enolimine groups. The electronic structure of the formally Cu(III) complexes pointed to an effective Cu(I) oxidation state with the other charge residing in the peptide ligand. The relative energies of isomeric complexes of the [Cu(c‐HAHK + H)]²⁺ and [Cu(c‐HAHK ? H)]²⁺ type with closed electronic shells followed similar orders when treated by the B3LYP and M06‐2X functionals. Large differences between relative energies calculated by these methods were obtained for open‐shell complexes of the [Cu(c‐HAHK)]²⁺ type. Charge reduction resulted in lowering the coordination numbers for some Cu complexes that depended on the singlet or triplet spin state being formed. For [Cu(c‐HAHK ? H)]²⁺ complexes, solution H/D exchange involved only the N–H protons, resulting in the exchange of up to seven protons, as established by ultra‐high mass resolution measurements. Contrasting the experiments, DFT calculations found the lowest energy structures for the gas‐phase ions that were deprotonated at the peptide C_α positions. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

An Electroanalytical Investigation on the Redox Properties of Calcium Antagonist Dihydropyridines

The antioxidant capacity of some calcium antagonists and one calcium agonist 1,4‐dihydropyridines (DHPs) was evaluated by a competitive kinetic procedure. With the exception of Amlodipine, all the calcium antagonist DHPs display an unambiguous antioxidant capacity, while for the calcium agonist DHP (Bay K 8644) no measurable reactivity towards peroxyl radicals could be detected. The finding was corroborated by an electroanalytical investigation of the redox properties of DHPs compounds to get an insight about both the thermodynamic constraints of their oxidation process and reaction pattern. The oxidation potentials decrease with both antioxidant capacity and increasing basic character, thus suggesting the relevance of the electron density on the DHP ring. For all the compounds investigated, the overall oxidation process takes place through a primary one‐electron step accompanied by a fast proton release and the formation of a neutral radical undergoing a second much easier one‐electron step. The protonated form of the parent pyridine derivative is thus generated as the final product. This pattern is relevant for the antioxidant effect, since the radical intermediate is much more prone to be oxidized than to be reduced, thus fully preventing the propagation of the oxidative chain reaction. In the case of calcium antagonist DHPs, the above release of protons complicates the overall oxidation process by introducing a parasitic side reaction where a coupling between protons and the starting species takes place. This DHP self‐protonation subtracts part of the original species from the electrode process because the parent cationic species is no longer electroactive. Conversely, the calcium agonist DHP, which is more difficult to be oxidized, turned out to be such a weak base as to be unable to undergo the self‐protonation reaction. The combined effect of oxidation potentials and proton binding capacity of DHPs is a key element for the redox transition, which could support their antioxidant effect and should be considered to some extent in accounting for the calcium antagonist vs calcium agonist effect.