Motexafin gadolinium reacts with ascorbate to produce reactive oxygen species

Motexafin gadolinium (MGd) oxidizes ascorbate, in neutral buffer and in cell culture, forming reactive oxygen species and a coordination polymer with oxalate.     

Glycol-modified molybdate catalysts for efficient singlet oxygen generation from hydrogen peroxide

Pretreatment of molybdate-exchanged layered double hydroxides in polyalcohols such as ethylene glycol affords heterogeneous catalysts showing largely improved oxidant efficiency compared to the unmodified materials.     

Production of singlet oxygen by the reaction of non-basic hydrogen peroxide with chlorine gas

Non-basic hydrogen peroxide was found to be very easy to react with Cl(2) to produce singlet oxygen O(2)(a(1)Δ(g)) (i.e. the molecular oxygen in its first electronic excited state) when an H(+) absorbent such as C(5)H(5)N, CH(3)COONH(4), HCOONH(4) or NH(4)F was added into H(2)O(2) aqueous solution, and the long concealed fact that molecular H(2)O(2) can react with Cl(2) to produce O(2)(a(1)Δ(g)) was then uncovered. It is only when an H(+) absorbent has provided a stronger base than H(2)O to absorb the H(+) produced during the reaction that O(2)(a(1)Δ(g)) can be produced.     

Synergism between molybdenum and lanthanum in the disproportionation of hydrogen peroxide into singlet oxygen

The catalytic disproportionation of hydrogen peroxide into singlet molecular oxygen was studied using the combined action of lanthanum(III) and molybdenum(VI). A synergistic effect was observed between both metals, resulting in a strong acceleration of the H2O2 disproportionation. An optimum in the catalytic activity was found at La/Mo and La/NaOH molar ratios of 4/1 and 1/3, respectively.     

Quantification of singlet oxygen production in the reaction of superoxide with hydrogen peroxide using a selective chemiluminescent probe

A sensitive chemiluminescent probe that selectively reacts with singlet oxygen in the presence of superoxide and hydrogen peroxide has been used to quantify the production of singlet oxygen in the reaction of superoxide with hydrogen peroxide. The yield of singlet oxygen from this reaction was found to be low (0.2% relative to the initial superoxide concentration). No evidence for the formation of hydroxyl radical was observed in this reaction, ruling out the Haber-Weiss mechanism as a major singlet oxygen formation pathway. No singlet oxygen production was observed in the reaction of superoxide with 2-nitrobenzoic acid, which has a pKa similar to that of hydrogen peroxide, rendering the protonation of superoxide, followed by its disproportionation, an unlikely explanation for the formation of singlet oxygen in this system. The low yields of singlet oxygen and hydroxyl radical suggest that their formation in this reaction should be relatively unimportant in biological systems.     

Lanthanum-exchanged zeolites as active and selective catalysts for the generation of singlet oxygen from hydrogen peroxide

Lanthanum(III)-exchanged zeolites Beta and USY are active and selective catalysts for the generation of singlet oxygen from H2O2 showing superior activity and oxidant efficiency compared to unsupported La-catalysts, e.g. La(OH)3.     

Ascorbate enhances photogeneration of hydrogen peroxide mediated by the iris melanin

The iris in the human eye is exposed to UV and visible light transmitted by the cornea. This pigmented tissue is bathed with the aqueous humor (AqH), which contains high concentration of ascorbate. It has been postulated that the presence of ascorbate in AqH can contribute to increased photoproduction of H2O2 mediated by the iris melanin. In this study, we monitored generation of H2O2 induced by UV-VIS irradiation of bovine irides, bovine and human iris homogenates and iris melanin. Our data show that exogenous ascorbate significantly amplified the rate of H2O2 photoformation in all melanotic samples. Deactivation of endogenous catalase with NaN3 in bovine irides increased the level of the accumulated H2O2 in the bathing solution following sample irradiation. Photoformation of H2O2 in samples with exogenous ascorbate was accompanied by its photo-oxidation. Both photoprocesses exhibited significant wavelength dependence. EPR spectroscopy measurements showed that ascorbyl radical is an intermediate product of the ascorbate photo-oxidation. The photoproduction of H2O2 and photo-oxidation of ascorbate appear to be stoichiometric processes. No significant differences in the photoreactivity of iridial melanin from donors of different age and iris color was found. We postulate that also in vivo ascorbate increases the rate of iris melanin-mediated photoformation of H2O2 and its steady state concentration in AqH.     

Hydrogen and oxygen isotope values in hydrogen peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) is a widely used oxidizer with many commercial applications; unfortunately, it also has terrorist-related uses. We analyzed 97 hydrogen peroxide solutions representing four grades purchased across the United States and in Mexico. As expected, the range of hydrogen (δ(2)H, 230‰) and oxygen (δ(18)O, 24‰) isotope values of the H(2)O(2) solutions was large, reflecting the broad isotopic range of dilution waters. This resulted in predictable linear relationships of δ(2)H and δ(18)O values of H(2)O(2) solutions that were near parallel to the Meteoric Water Line (MWL), offset by the concentration of H(2)O(2) in the solution. By grade, dilute (3 to 35%) H(2)O(2) solutions were not statistically different in slope. Although the δ(2)H values of manufactured H(2)O(2) could be different from those of water, rapid H(2)O(2)-H(2)O exchange of H atoms eliminated any distinct isotope signal. We developed a method to measure the δ(18)O value of H(2)O(2) independent of dilution water by directly measuring O(2) gas generated from a catalase-induced disproportionation reaction. We predicted that the δ(18)O values of H(2)O(2) would be similar to that of atmospheric oxygen (+23.5‰), the predominant source of oxygen in the most common H(2)O(2) manufacturing process (median disproportionated δ(18)O=23.8‰). The predictable H-O relationships in H(2)O(2) solutions make it possible to distinguish commercial dilutions from clandestine concentration practices. Future applications of this work include synthesis studies that investigate the chemical link between H(2)O(2) reagents and peroxide-based explosive products, which may assist law enforcement in criminal investigations.     

Ab initio study of oxygen atom transfer from hydrogen peroxide to trimethylamine

Unlike what has been theoretically proposed for ammonia oxidation with hydrogen peroxide, trimethylamine oxidation occurs with a concerted mechanism, which is favored even when an explicit water molecule is added or continuum solvent (water) is simulated.     

Chemistry of singlet oxygen with arylphosphines

The chemistry of singlet oxygen with a variety of arylphosphines has been studied. Rates of singlet oxygen removal by para-substituted arylphosphines show good correlation with the Hammett σ parameter (ρ=−1.53 in CDCl₃), and with the Tolman electronic parameter. The only products for the reactions of these phosphines with singlet oxygen are the corresponding phosphine oxides. Conversely, for ortho-substituted phosphines with electron-donating substituents, there are two products, namely a phosphinate formed by intramolecular insertion and phosphine oxide. Kinetic analyses demonstrate that both products are formed from the same intermediate, and this allows determination of the rate ratios for the competing pathways. Increasing the steric bulk of the phosphine leads to an increase in the amount of insertion product. VT NMR experiments show that peroxidic intermediates can only be detected for very hindered and very electron-rich arylphosphines.     

Reactions of singlet oxygen with biomolecules

Rate constants of singlet oxygen quenching by glycyrrhetic acid, glycyrrhizic acid, isoliquiritigenin, licurazide,d-glucose, andl-arabinose were determined. An increase in the quenching rate constants by more than an order of magnitude is observed on going from aglycone to the corresponding glycoside.Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 1, pp. 57–59, January, 1996.     

Free radical/singlet dioxygen system under the conditions of catalytic hydrogen peroxide decomposition

Hydrogen peroxide decomposition and the oxidation of unsaturated compounds (anthracenes, alkenes, etc.) in the H₂O₂/V^(V)/AcOH system occur via a molecular mechanism. H₂O₂ decomposes to yield singlet dioxygen¹O₂(¹Δ_g). Among V^V peroxo complexes of different compositions, coordinated Superoxide radical anions V^(V)(O2/∸) are found in a steady-state concentration in the system under investigation. Styrene oxidation in the H₂O₂V^(V)/AcOH system unusually accelerates in the presence of 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol (BHT), which is an inhibitor of radical chain reactions. This is explained by a decrease in the V^(V)(O ₂ ^∸ ) concentration and an increase in the concentration of dissolved¹O₂ in the presence of ionol. A new phenomenon in the chemistry of singlet dioxygen is found: the ESR signal from the paramagnetic system upon its interaction with¹O₂ broadens in an unusually drastic manner (up to 10 G). This broadening is virtually independent of the nature of the radicals, the acidity of the medium, and the nature of the metal catalysts used for the generation of¹O₂(¹Δ_g).     

Calcium peroxide diperoxohydrate as a storable chemical generator of singlet oxygen for organic synthesis

Calcium peroxide diperoxohydrate (CaO(2).2H(2)O(2)) is an environmentally friendly generator of singlet oxygen ((1)O(2), (1)Delta(g)) that can be used in organic synthesis as an alternative to the regular photochemical method. This compound produces (1)O(2) in various solvents and can be easily recovered by filtration for further regeneration. Both monitoring of (1)O(2) luminescence at 1270 nm and specific trapping have shown that CaO(2).2H(2)O(2) can be stored for several days at -80 degrees C and that the yield of (1)O(2) is equal to 25%. Oxidation of typical organic substrates in methanol or THF through [4 + 2] or [2 + 2] cycloaddition and ene reaction have been carried out on a preparative scale with total conversion and selectivity.     

Reactions of hydrogen atom with hydrogen peroxide

Rate coefficients are calculated using canonical variational transition state theory with multidimensional tunneling (CVT/SCT) for the reactions H + H2O2 --> H2O + OH (1a) and H + H2O2 --> HO2 + H2 (1b). Reaction barrier heights are determined using two theoretical approaches: (i) comparison of parametrized rate coefficient calculations employing CVT/SCT to experiment and (ii) high-level ab initio methods. The evaluated experimental data reveal considerable variations of the barrier height for the first reaction: although the zero-point-exclusive barrier for (1a) derived from the data by Klemm et al. (First Int. Chem. Kinet. Symposium 1975, 61) is 4.6 kcal/mol, other available measurements result in a higher barrier of 6.2 kcal/mol. The empirically derived zero-point-exclusive barrier for (1b) is 10.4 kcal/mol. The electronic structure of the system at transition state geometries in both reactions was found to have "multireference" character; therefore special care was taken when analyzing electronic structure calculations. Transition state geometries are optimized by multireference perturbation theory (MRMP2) with a variety of one-electron basis sets, and by a multireference coupled cluster (MR-AQCCSD) method. A variety of single-reference benchmark-level calculations have also been carried out; included among them are BMC-CCSD, G3SX(MP3), G3SX, G3, G2, MCG3, CBS-APNO, CBS-Q, CBS-QB3, and CCSD(T). Our data obtained at the MRMP2 level are the most complete; the barrier height for (1a) using MRMP2 at the infinite basis set limit is 4.8 kcal/mol. Results are also obtained with midlevel single-reference multicoefficient correlation methods, such as MC3BB, MC3MPW, MC-QCISD/3, and MC-QCISD-MPWB, and with a variety of hybrid density functional methods, which are compared with high-level theory. On the basis of the evaluated experimental values and the benchmark calculations, two possible recommended values are given for the rate coefficients.     

Spatially resolved cellular responses to singlet oxygen

Singlet oxygen (1O2) is unique amongst reactive oxygen species formed in cells in that it is an excited state molecule with an inherent upper lifetime of 4 micros in water. Whether the lifetime of 1O2 in cells is shortened by reactions with cellular molecules or reaches the inherent maximum value is still unclear. However, even with the maximum lifetime, the diffusion radius is only approximately 220 nm during three lifetimes (approximately 5% 1O2 remaining), much shorter than cellular dimensions indicating that the primary reactions of 1O2 will be subcellularly localized near the site of 1O2 formation. This fact has raised the question of whether spatially resolved cellular responses to 1O2 occur, i.e. whether responses can be initiated by generation and reaction of 1O2 at a particular subcellular location that would not have been produced by 1O2 generation at other subcellular sites. In this paper, we discuss examples of spatially resolved responses initiated by 1O2 as a function of distance from the site of generation of 1O2. Three levels are recognized, namely, a molecular level where the primary oxidation product directly modifies the behavior of a cell, an organelle level where the initial photo-oxidation products initiate mechanisms that are unique to the organelle and the cellular level where mediators diffuse from their site of formation to the target molecules that initiate the response. These examples indicate that, indeed, spatially resolved responses to 'O2 occur in cells.     

Reduction of oxygen and hydrogen peroxide on electrodes with adsorbed monolayer of aliphatic compounds

Cathodic reduction of oxygen and hydrogen peroxide on amalgamated platinum electrodes, which are coated with monolayers of long-chain aliphatic compounds cetyl alcohol (CA) and stearic acid (SA), is retarded as compared with the same reactions on clean mercury (or amalgam) surface. The oxygen reduction kinetics differ from that on mercury. The difference is explained by that oxygen diffuses into the monolayer and is reduced in it at a certain distance from the metal surface and only at the limiting current the reaction is forced onto the monolayer surface. In contrast to the oxygen reduction, the hydrogen peroxide reduction kinetics on electrodes with SA and CA monolayers is much closer to that on mercury, but with some quantitative distinctions. All results favor the H₂O₂ reduction at the monolayer/solution interface. The difference in the behavior of O₂ and H₂O₂ is explained by different polarity of these molecules: it is significantly more difficult to penetrate the hydrocarbon monolayer for polar H₂O₂ molecule than for nonpolar O₂ molecule.     

Electrochemical reduction of oxygen to hydrogen peroxide in a gas-diffusion electrode based on mesoporous carbon

Mesoporous carbon prepared by template synthesis using SBA-15 mesostructured silicate material was tested as an electrocatalyst for electrochemical synthesis of Н₂О₂ from О₂ in a two-layer gas-diffusion electrode. Preparative syntheses of Н₂О₂ in 0.06 to 2.0 M aqueous solutions of various electrolytes (pH 2–8) were performed at current densities in the interval 0.05–0.19 A cm^–2. Solutions with an Н₂О₂ concentration of 1–2.8 M were prepared with 46–70% current efficiency. Thus, the material tested shows promise as an electrocatalyst of two-electron reduction of oxygen to Н₂О₂.