Formation of free radicals in photoirradiated cellulose. VIII. Mechanisms

Photoinduced free radicals in cellulose were studies by means of ESR spectroscopy. Plausible mechanisms have been suggested for each type of intermediate radical to account for the ESR spectra observed and for the product balances. Based on the principles of photochemistry of cellulose, coupled with the findings of the ESR spectra, it becomes evident that localization of the energy absorbed in the cellulose molecule leads to formation of free radicals in terms of chain scission, dehydrogenation, dehydroxylation, and dehydroxymethylation. Emphasis has been placed on the correlation of the mechanisms of photodegradation and the mechanisms of photoinduced graft copolymerization.     

Formation of free radicals in photoirradiated cellulose. VII. Radical decay

The ESR spectra of untreated and photosensitized celluloses irradiated with three different ultraviolet light sources, i.e., λ > 2537 Å, λ > 2800 Å, λ > 3400 Å, at 77°K under vacuum were studied. Based on the warm-up process, that is, warming the sample from 77°K to 273°K for a certain time and recorded at 77°K, the decay behavior of free radicals of celluloses was examined for changes of the pattern and the intensities of ESR spectra. For the untreated samples irradiated with light of λ > 2537 Å and λ > 2800 Å, beside the two doublet spectra originating from hydrogen atoms (508 gauss splitting) and formyl radicals (129 gauss splitting), the observed sevenline spectrum was resolved to be a superposition of a singlet (ΔH_msl = 16 gauss), a doublet (24 gauss splitting), a triplet (34 gauss splitting), and a quartet (overall width, 88 gauss) spectrum. For the photosensitized samples irradiated with light of λ > 3400 Å, the 1:1:1 three-line spectrum was resolved to be a superposition of a singlet (ΔH_msl = 27 gauss), a doublet (43 gauss splitting), and a triplet (34 gauss splitting) spectrum. The five-line spectra of the photosensitized samples irradiated with light of λ > 2537 Å and λ > 2800 Å were resolved to be a superposition of a singlet (ΔH_msl = 27 gauss), a doublet (43 gauss splitting), and a triplet (34 gauss splitting) spectrum. Based on these findings, the conclusion was drawn that at least six kinds of spectra, generated from six kinds of radical species, were formed in cellulose irradiated with ultraviolet light under appropriate experimental conditions.     

Formation of free radicals in photoirradiated cellulose. III. Effect of photosensitizers

The effect of several photosensitizers on the formation of free radicals in cellulose has been investigated. Radicals were generated with ultraviolet light, and examined by means of ESR techniques; irradiations were carried out at 77°K. On irradiation of the sensitized celluloses with light of λ > 3400 Å, samples treated with benzoyl peroxide, hydrogen peroxide, benzophenone, riboflavin, azobisisobutylonitrile, and metallic ions Cr²⁺ and Ni²⁺ exhibited single-line spectra with line widths of 16 to 26 gauss. Samples treated with Pb²⁺ and Fe³⁺ exhibited three-line and five-line spectra, respectively. On irradiation with light of λ > 2537 Å, most of the sensitized samples exhibited five-line spectra with different relative signal intensities. Among these, samples treated with Fe³⁺ manifested the most prominent spectra with the strongest relative signal intensities.     

Formation of free radicals in photoirradiated cellulose. II. Effect of moisture

The effect of moisture content upon free radical formation in celluloses irradiated with ultraviolet light has been studied by means of ESR spectroscopy at 77°K. As studied from the variation of the line-shape and the relative signal intensity of the spectra observed, it is clear that moisture content in the sample greatly influences the formation of free radicals when irradiated with ultraviolet light. The moisture content in the range of 5–7% leads to a significant decrease of radical formation; and alternatively, when moisture content is lower or higher than this range, the formation of free radicals is increased.     

Formation of free radicals in photoirradiated cellulose. VI. Effect of lignin

The effect of lignin on free-radical formation in photoirradiated pulp was studied by means of electron spin resonance spectroscopy. Samples were irradiated with light of wavelength longer than 3400 Å as well as longer than 2537 Å. Radical formation in aspen lignin was observed before and after irradiation with light of wavelength longer than 3400 Å. Upon irradiation, free radicals were formed in a pulp sample with 0% lignin content only when oxygen was present. On irradiation with light longer than 2537 Å, in the presence of nitrogen, oxygen, and under vacuum, free-radical formation was found in all cases. The largest concentration of radicals was obtained under vacuum, the smallest in oxygen. It is evident that cellulose was protected from radiation by the presence of lignin. Increased aspen lignin content in pulp led to a decrease in the relative signal intensity of ESR spectrum, that is, a decrease of the yield of free radicals in the cellulose fraction in pulp. Irradiation with light in the presence of oxygen caused significant yellowing of the pulp sample, and these photooxidation and discoloration reactions occurred primarily on the surface of the sample irradiated.     

Formation of free radicals in photoirradiated cellulose. I. Effect of wavelength

Formation of free radicals in photoirradiated cellulose has been studied by means of ESR spectroscopy at 77°K. Three kinds of light sources with different wavelengths between 2500 and 4000 ÅR were employed. No radicals detectable by ESR were recorded when cellulose was irradiated with light of wavelength longer than 3300–3400 ÅR. Hydrogen atoms that generated a doublet spectrum (ΔH = 508 G) were observed when cellulose was irradiated with light longer than 2800 ÅR. Hydrogen atoms and formly radicals that generated doublet spectra with splitting constants of 508 and 129 G, respectively, were observed when irradiated with light shorter than 2800 ÅR. The scission of the polymer chain in cellulose is evident from decrease of the degree of polymerization, and the results of mass spectrometric analysis indicated H₂, CO, CO₂, and H₂O to be the main volatile products of cellulose upon photoirradiation.     

Formation of free radicals in photoirradiated cellulose. V. Effect of temperature

ESR spectra of purified and ferric ion-sensitized celluloses irradiated with ultraviolet light in vacuo at 45, 20, ?80, and ?196°C were recoreded and compared. Generally, several kinds of spectra, viz., singlet, three-line, five-line, and seven-line spectra, were observed. At higher temperatures, only singlet and three-line spectra of stable free-radical species were detected, whereas at lower temperatures such as at ?196°C, two doubled spectra of formyl radicals and hydrogen atoms were also detected in addition to cellulose radicals. It is believed that the intricate spectra observed at low temperatures are superimposed upon spectra generated by free radicals which may or may not be stable at high temperatures. During reirradiation at ?196°C with an alternative light sources, i.e., λ > 2537 Å and λ > 3400 Å, of samples which were irradiated at 20°C or at ?196°C, phenomena indicative of radical transformation and formation of new radicals or of decay of radicals in terms of ultraviolet bleaching were observed on studying the changes of line-shapes and relative signal intensities of the spectra.     

Photoreactivity of biologically active compounds. XVI. Formation and reactivity of free radicals in mefloquine

The formation and reactivity of the triplet state and free radicals of mefloquine hydrochloride (MQ) have been investigated by pulse radiolysis and flash photolysis. The excited triplet, cation radical and anion radical have been produced and their absorption characteristics determined. The triplet-triplet absorption spectrum of MQ showed a maximum at 430 nm, with a molar absorption coefficient of 3600 M(-1) cm(-1) and the quantum yield for intersystem crossing was determined to be close to unity. Deactivation of the triplet, in the absence of oxygen, led to the formation of MQ cation and/or anion radicals. The molar absorption coefficient of the cation radical at 330 nm was determined to be 2300 M(-1) cm(-1), whilst that for the anion radical was 2400 M(-1) cm(-1) at 620 nm and 3600 M(-1) cm(-1) at 350 nm. The molar absorption coefficients of the proposed neutral radical at 320 nm and 520 nm were 4000 M(-1) cm(-1) and 1300 M(-1) cm(-1) respectively. The quantum yield for the formation of singlet oxygen, sensitized by MQ triplet, was determined to be close to unity. Aqueous solutions of MQ were found to photoionize to yield hydrated electron and cation radical of MQ in a biphotonic process. The influences of pH, buffer concentration, oxygen concentration and addition of sodium azide on the formation and reactivity of the transients were evaluated. The reactions between MQ and solvated electrons and superoxide anion were also studied.     

On the reactivity of cellulose free radicals in graft copolymerization reactions

The formation and behavior of photo-and mechanoinduced free radicals in cellulose were studied by ESR spectroscopy and the capability of these free radicals to initiate graft copolymerization reactions was demonstrated. Although an 11-line ESR signal was detected from cellulose irradiated with ultraviolet (UV) light, a higher-intensity ESR signal with a five-line pattern was detected from a sample mechanically milled at 77 K. The decay of photoinduced free radicals when heated took place monotonously, whereas mechanoradicals exhibited an anomalous behavior with an increased signal intensity at 150 K before decaying at a higher temperature. Mechanoradicals have been found to react more efficiently and rapidly with oxygen and methyl methacrylate (MMA) than photoinduced free radicals. The peroxy mechanoradicals, however, were mobile and decayed more rapidly than the peroxy photoinduced radicals. Simultaneous graft copolymerizations of MMA to cellulose demonstrated that mechano-and photoinduced free radicals are capable of initiating grafting reactions, but a higher degree of grafting efficiency was obtained from cellulose treated mechanically.     

Reaction of free radicals with unsymmetrical organomercury compounds

Russian Chemical Bulletin -     

Formation of free radicals in the low-temperature fluorination of polymers

The formation of free radicals in the process of direct fluorination of natural and synthetic polymers at temperatures close to 77 K was studied by ESR. The maximum concentrations of radicals, (10¹⁷–5·10¹⁸ spin g^–1) and their complete oxidation were observed in the temperature interval from 77 to 250 K at a fluorine pressure of 30 Torr. The initiation of chain halogenation, which consists of homolytic breaking of chemical bonds to yield free-radical intermediates. was examined in the framework of the multi-center synchronous transitions model.     

Formation of free radicals during machining and fracture of polymers

Electron paramagnetic resonance measurements of the number of free radicals formed during cutting and grinding of polymers are described. It was found in the semicrystalline polymers studied that below the glassy transition temperature that the number of free radicals formed is about 2 × 10¹³/cm² of surface formed. It is proposed that this number results from the crack progressing selectively through the glassy regions about more ordered regions in the polymers.     

Formation of free radicals in acid-catalyzed decomposition of di-tert-butyl peroxide

Conclusions Di-tert-butyl peroxide under the influence of protic and aprotic acids is converted to isobutylene and tert-butyl hydroperoxide. The formation of free radicals occurs as the result of the acid-catalyzed homolysis of the hydroperoxide.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 6, pp. 1400–1402, June, 1976.     

Photochromic behaviour of ozonated and photoirradiated cellulose studied by fluorescence spectroscopy

Samples of ozonated pure cotton cellulose have been subjected to three extended periods of irradiation with monochromatic light at 350 nm, with intervening dark periods. The changes during the treatments were monitored using fluorescence spectroscopy. Photochromic behaviour, comprising a fairly rapid emission intensity decrease during irradiation and a slower recovery of the emission intensity in the dark at ambient temperature, was observed. Starting from the completion of the first irradiation/dark treatment the intervening dark reaction almost completely restored the situation prevailing before irradiation. The photochromism observed for a reference sample of cellulose not pretreated with ozone and for microcrystalline cellulose was similar but differed both in amplitude and in fluorescence recovery during the dark periods. The ozonated sample was also irradiated with the entire spectrum of a medium pressure Hg lamp. This treatment caused a strong increase in the emission intensity and a red-shift of the emission maximum. The changes caused by ozonation and irradiation were also studied by diffuse reflectance FT-IR and UV-visible reflectance spectroscopy.