The study of rotational mobility of stable nitroxyl radicals in polyvinylacetate

Analyses of the rotational diffusion characters of free and bonded nitroxyl radicals in polyvinylacetate were carried out. The radical rotational character essentially depends on the molecular sizes of the radicals. The movement of the “small” radical is matched by the arbitrary jump tumbling model. The rotation of the “large” radical (both probe and label) occurs by the Brownian rotational diffusion mechanism. The correlation times in the slow-motion region are calculated by taking into account the radical rotation mechanism. Comparison of the τ_c values for the free and bonded radicals with those obtained by the NMR technique shows that movements of the spin probes and labels depend not only on the short polymer segments but on other factors also.     

Mutual Effect of Functional Groups and the Radical Center on the Reactivity of Nitroxyl Radicals

This review considers the correlation between the reactivity of nitroxyl radicals (piperidine, pyrroline, pyrrolidine, imidazoline, dihydroquinoline, tetrahydroquinoline, diphenyl nitroxide, etc.) and their chemical structure in terms of the rate constants of reactions between these radicals and hydrazobenzene. 4,4′-Di(tert-butyl)diphenyl nitroxyl has the highest reactivity, and the nitroxyl radical of benzoindolopyrrolidine is the least reactive (the difference is a factor of ∼10⁴). The effects of the metal atom in stable organometallic nitroxyl radicals and of the halogen atom in halogenated nitroxyl radicals on the reactivity of the nitroxyl center are considered. Data on the effect of the nitroxyl center on the reactivity of functional groups in the piperidine nitroxyl radical are generalized. Nitroxyl radicals with an activated double bond are shown by quantum chemical calculations to form cyclic transition complexes with amines, involving both the paramagnetic center and a double bond. This explains why the activated double bond in nitroxyl radicals is more reactive in nucleophilic additions of amines than the same bond in their diamagnetic analogues. The rate constants of nitroxyl reduction with hydrazobenzene and of nitroxyl oxidation with tetranitromethane are related to the σ_ESR constant derived from isotropic hyperfine coupling constants HFC_(aN), and their correlation with Hammett constants is demonstrated. The role of solvents in the reduction and oxidation of the nitroxyl radicals is considered. The influence of hydroxyl radical-polar solvent complexes and hydroxylamine-polar solvent H complexes on the course of reactions is considered for hydrogen atom transfer in systems of a sterically hindered nitroxyl radical and hydroxylamine.__________Translated from Kinetika i Kataliz, Vol. 46, No. 4, 2005, pp. 506–528.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Malievskii, Shapiro.     

Energy transfer in the course of triplet state quenching of aromatic hydrocarbons by nitroxyl radicals

Quenching of triplet states of aromatic hydrocarbons by nitroxyl radicals has been investigated by the flash photolysis method. There are two different mechanisms of triplet quenching: quenching occurs via enhanced intersystem crossing on exchange interaction with the radical for the triplet states of aromatic hydrocarbons which have low triplet energy (E_T < 14700 cm^?1); for very high triplet energies, energy transfer from the triplet molecule to the nitroxyl radical occurs. The energy of the excited nitroxyl radical was estimated to be 18000 cm^?1.     

Autocatalysis by the nitroxyl radical in the cyclic mechanism of chain termination in polymer oxidation

The activation energy and rate constant of the reaction between the nitroxyl radical and N-alkoxyamine as a concerted abstraction–fragmentation reaction have been calculated using the intersecting parabolas model. This reaction proceeds fairly rapidly and leads to nitroxyl radical autoregeneration as a result of the following consecutive reactions:AmO^? + AmOR → AmOH + >C=O + Am^?, RO ₂ ^? + AmOH → ROOH + AmO^?, Am^?+ O₂ → Am ₂ ^? , and 2AmO ₂ ^? → 2AmO^? + O₂. Thus, the nitroxyl radical is an effective radical catalyst for its own regeneration from N-alkoxyamine. The rates of regeneration of the nitroxyl radical from its N-alkoxyamine under the action of alkyl, alkoxyl, peroxyl, nitroxyl, and hydroperoxyl radicals under conditions of polypropylene oxidation inhibited by the nitroxyl radical are compared. It is demonstrated that only peroxyl, hydroperoxyl, and nitroxyl radicals are involved in AmO^? regeneration from AmOR.     

Synthesis and structure of <Emphasis Type="Italic">trans</Emphasis>-2,2,4,6,6,8,8-heptamethyl-2,3,5a,6,7,8,9,9a-octahydro-1<Emphasis Type="Italic">H</Emphasis>-pyrido[4,3-<Emphasis Type="Italic">b</Emphasis>][1,4]diazepin-7-oxyl

trans-3,4-Diamino-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidin-1-oxyl at the disstillation in a vacuum at >100°C suffered a partial thermal decomposition with the formation of two new nitroxyl radicals, bicyclic trans-2,2,4,6,6,8,8-heptamethyl-2,3,5a,6,7,8,9,9a-octahydro-1H-pyrido[4,3-b][1,4]diazepin-7-oxyl prevailing. This radical was also obtained by the reaction of the initial diaminopiperidinoxyl with mesityl oxide. According to XRD data the radical has trans-located substituents at the bridging bond of the bicycle. Taking into consideration the asymmetric atoms C^5a and C^9a the synthesized radical is a mixture of two enantiomers. Each of them in the crystalline state forms a pair of diastereomers distinguished by the position of the hydrogen atom at the atom N¹.     

Restriction of Spin Probe Motions in Polymer Composites Due to Chemical Factors

Abstract

Hyperfine splitting constants of the nitroxyl radical, with and without hydrogen bonds to the surrounding molecules, have been calculated using the UHF method on a 6-31G* base. In polyethylene filled with silica, hydrogen bonds are formed between nitroxyl radicals and —OH groups of the filler. The formation of hydrogen bonds leads to a change in the A _zz value from 3.33 mT for an isolated nitroxyl radical to 3.83 mT for a radical with a hydrogen bond. The relevant values as measured experimentally are 3.4 and 4.0 mT, respectively. The same procedure was used to calculate the theoretical A _zz value for a nitroxyl radical interacting with polyamide via a hydrogen bond. The value was found to be 3.63 mT (experimental value = 3.6 mT). Hydrogen bond formation results in a restricted motion of the nitroxyl radical in a polymeric medium.     

Kinetics of polymerization rate based on the dependence of termination rate on chain length

When the structure of a primary radical resembles that of the chain end of the polymer radical, the rate of the primary radical termination is approximately the same as the termination rate between the oligomer radical and the polymer radical. The rate constant of termination between polymer radicals of chain length n and s, which involve the primary radicals, is k_t,ns = const.(ns)^?a. In the polymerization of methacrylonitrile initiated by 2,2′-azobisisobutyronitrile in dimethylformamide at 60.0°C, the value of a is found to be 0.091. From data obtained previously in the bulk polymerization of styrene initiated by 1-azobis-2-phenylethane at 60.0°C, the value of a is found to be 0.167. Because such a values are so large that they are not estimated by the excluded volume, the termination rates are discussed by adding the dependence of the diffusion of the segments to that for chain length.     

Radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate in the presence of stereoregular poly(methyl methacrylate). V. Kinetics of initial template polymerization

The influence of stereoregular poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) as a polymer matrix on the initial rate of radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) has been measured between ?11 and +60°C using a dilatometric technique. Under proper conditions an increase in the relative initial rate of template polymerization with respect to a blank polymerization was observed. Viscometric studies showed that the observed effect could be related to the extent of complex formation between the polymer matrix and the growing chain radical. The initial rate was dependent on tacticity and molecular weight of the matrix polymer, solvent type and polymerization temperature. The accelerating effect was most pronounced (a fivefold increase in rate) at the lowest polymerization temperature with the highest molecular weight isotactic PMMA as a matrix in a solvent like dimethylformamide (DMF), which is known to be a good medium for complex formation between isotactic and syndiotactic PMMA. The acceleration of the polymerization below 25°C appeared to be accompanied by a large decrease in the overall energy and entropy of activation. It is suggested that the observed template effects are mainly due to the stereoselection in the propagation step (lower activation entropy Δ S_p^?) and the hindrance of segmental diffusion in the termination step (higher activation energy Δ E_t^?) of complexed growing chain radicals.     

Nitroxyl radicals and nitroxylethers beyond stabilization: radical generators for efficient polymer modification

Beyond traditional polymer stabilization, sterically hindered piperidine derivatives move into new application areas where radical functions are key elements. Recent achievements in using nitroxyl derivatives in degradation, polymerization and grafting processes are discussed together with the involved chemical reactions and the resulting material properties. The examples shown cover selected nitroxylethers (NORs) performing as flame retardants and flame retardant synergists or replacing peroxides in manufacturing controlled rheology polypropylene (PP). Furthermore, NORs and nitroxyl radicals mediate radical polymerization processes resulting in tailor-made intermediates for polymer modification via radical and condensation steps and offer access to complex polymer architecture. To cite this article: R. Pfaendner, C.R. Chimie 9 (2006).     

Steric effects upon transition states of radical addition polymerizations

Transition states (TSs) of radical addition homopolymerization reactions of methyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, dimethyl itaconate, and N-methyl itaconimide were examined with two-unit radical models using MOPAC (PM3 UHF) semiempirical method. Calculated activation energies (E_as) show good correlations with experimental values. Calculated activation entropies (−ΔS^‡s) are found to be well proportional to E_as. The entropy terms play an important role as well as E_a in radical additions. E_a depends on the angle (θ_rs) between reaction points of radical and of monomer at TS. The bond length between reaction points at TS is constant regardless of monomers studied. The geometries and thermodynamical properties calculated here for TS indicate the importance of steric effects caused by substituted group(s) rather than electronic perturbation energies reported previously. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Polymerization of Styrene in the Presence of Nitroxyl Radicals Generated Directly in the Course of the Polymer Synthesis (in situ)

The features of radical polymerization of styrene in the presence of nitroxyl radicals generated directly in the course of the polymer synthesis (in situ) by irreversible reaction of stable organic compounds 2-methyl-2-nitrosopropane, C-phenyl-N-tert-butylnitrone, and nitrosodurene with propagating polymer radicals were studied.     

Etching of GaAs (100) with gaseous H/CH3 mixtures

GaAs (100) wafers were etched in mixtures of hydrogen atoms and methyl radicals. The atoms were formed in a remote hydrogen plasma, and a fraction of these were converted into methyl radicals by introducing methane into the flow system upstream from the semiconductor surface. The flux of hydrogen atoms into the reaction chamber was determined by isothermal calorimetry. The methyl radical flux passing over the substrate was then calculated using previously determined rate parameters for the reaction between atomic hydrogen and methane, and a simple modeling program. The GaAs etch rates were about an order of magnitude faster when methyl radicals were present in the hydrogen atom stream, and were found to follow a first-order dependence on the partial pressure of methyl radicals. Absolute rate constants were determined and an Arrhenius activation energy of 1.2 kcal mol^?1 was calculated. The values of k and E_a are consistent with a diffusion-controlled process. SEM photographs of the surface revealed small crystallographic features that made the surface appear very rough. XPS analysis indicated that these surfaces were arsenic deficient. A mechanism is proposed for the etching of GaAs by a combination of methyl radicals and hydrogen atoms. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Trapping of fatty acid allyl radicals generated in lipoxygenase reactions in biological fluids by nitroxyl radical

Nitroxyl radicals can trap fatty acid allyl radicals on ferric‐lipoxygenases at lower oxygen content, which are an intermediate in the lipoxygenase reaction. In the present study, we examined whether nitroxyl radical‐trapping of fatty acid allyl radicals on the enzyme proceeds in biological fluids with abundant antioxidants. The fatty acid allyl radical–nitroxyl radical adducts were quantified by HPLC with electrochemical detection (HPLC‐ECD); the adducts in eluate degraded into nitroxyl radical by passing through heating coil at 100°C, and then nitroxyl radical was detected by electrochemical detector. Soybean 15‐lipoxygenase and nitroxyl radical (3‐carbamoyl‐2,2,5,5‐tetramethyl‐3‐pyrroline‐N‐oxyl, CmΔP) were mixed with rat serum prepared from fresh venous blood, and the solution was stood at 37°C for 1 h. One volume of the solution was mixed with 5 vols of cold acetonitrile. After centrifugation, the supernatant was subjected to HPLC‐ECD. Arachidonate allyl radical–CmΔP adducts as well as linoleate allyl radical–CmΔP adducts were detected in the solution, and the content of these adducts remarkably increased in the presence of phospholipase A₂. It is proved for the first time that nitroxyl radical traps fatty acid allyl radicals generated in the lipoxygenase reaction in biological fluid without competition from endogenous antioxidants. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Highly Efficient Direct Aerobic Oxidative Esterification of Cinnamyl Alcohol with Alkyl Alcohols Catalysed by Gold Nanoparticles Incarcerated in a Nanoporous Polymer Matrix: A Tool for Investigating the Role of the Polymer Host

The selective aerobic oxidation of cinnamyl alcohol to cinnamaldehyde, as well as direct oxidative esterification of this alcohol with primary and secondary aliphatic alcohols, were achieved with high chemoselectivity by using gold nanoparticles supported in a nanoporous semicrystalline multi‐block copolymer matrix, which consisted of syndiotactic polystyrene‐co‐cis‐1,4‐polybutadiene. The cascade reaction that leads to the alkyl cinnamates occurs through two oxidation steps: the selective oxidation of cinnamyl alcohol to cinnamaldehyde, followed by oxidation of the hemiacetal that results from the base‐catalysed reaction of cinnamaldehyde with an aliphatic alcohol. The rate constants for the two steps were evaluated in the temperature range 10–45 °C. The cinnamyl alcohol oxidation is faster than the oxidative esterification of cinnamaldehyde with methanol, ethanol, 2‐propanol, 1‐butanol, 1‐hexanol or 1‐octanol. The rate constants of the latter reaction are pseudo‐zero order with respect to the aliphatic alcohol and decrease as the bulkiness of the alcohol is increased. The activation energy (E_a) for the two oxidation steps was calculated for esterification of cinnamyl alcohol with 1‐butanol (E_a=57.8±11.5 and 62.7±16.7 kJ mol^?1 for the first and second step, respectively). The oxidative esterification of cinnamyl alcohol with 2‐phenylethanol follows pseudo‐first‐order kinetics with respect to 2‐phenylethanol and is faster than observed for other alcohols because of fast diffusion of the aromatic alcohol in the crystalline phase of the support. The kinetic investigation allowed us to assess the role of the polymer support in the determination of both high activity and selectivity in the title reaction.     

Oxidative destruction of polyolefins under stress. The action of ozone on polyethylene and polypropylene

Tensile stresses accelerate the rate of oxidation by ozone of films of polyolefins, high-density and low-density polyethylene, and isotactic polypropylene. Experiments have been performed on thin (up to 20 μm) uniaxially oriented films under constant stress σ, under conditions where the chemical kinetics rather than diffusion dominates. It is found that the oxidation rate is proportional to exp(γ′σ/RT) where γ′ is an empirical constant. The effects of unimolecular chain scission and the change of molecular polymer parameters under stress on this dependence are negligible. An analogy with the kinetics of oxidation of stressed cycloparaffins by ozone is noted. A mechanism is suggested to explain the accelerating effect of tensile deformations on chemical processes involving rehybridization of carbon atoms in the main chain from the sp³ to the sp² state. An ESR study with a stable nitroxyl radical probe revealed a change in the segmental mobility of polymer chains in the course of loading.     

Ionic and excited species in irradiated poly(dimethylsiloxane) doped with pyrene

The influence of temperature (77–230 K) on the fate of pyrene (Py) radical ions and Py excited states in irradiated poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) doped with Py is described. At 77 K, the Py radical ions seem to be stable, whereas the Py excited states [fluorescence (λ = 395 nm) and phosphorescence (λ = 575–650 nm)] are generated via tunneling charge transfer. In the range of the glass‐transition temperature (T_g = 152–153 K), the Py radical ions start to decay, taking part in a recombination process and leading to the Py monomer and Py excimer fluorescence (λ = 475 nm). The wavelength‐selected radiothermoluminescence (WS RTL) observed at approximately 395, 475, and 600 nm has helped us to identify the T_g range (152–153 K). The absorption maximum at approximately 404 nm, found in the temperature range under consideration, is thought to represent PyH^?, cyclohexadienyl‐type radicals produced as a result of the reaction of Py^?? with protonated PDMS macromolecules. With the initial‐rise method of evaluating the activation energy (E_a) with the WS RTL peaks observed in the T_g range, E_a values of 123–151 kJ mol^?1 have been found. Such high E_a values can be explained by the contribution of energy connected to the molecular relaxation of the matrix in the T_g range. The well‐known Williams–Landel–Ferry equation, with universal constants C₁ = 17.4 and C₂ = 12.7, has been successfully applied to the interpretation of old pulse‐radiolysis/viscosity data found for crosslinked PDMS doped with Py. The mechanisms involved in these phenomena are discussed. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 6125–6133, 2004     

Nickel(II) Complex with Optically Active (3S)-3-Hydroxyaminocaran-4-one E-oxime and Its Oxidation into a Complex with Nitroxyl Radicals

Ni(II) chelate with (3S)-3-hydroxyaminocaran-4-one E-oxime (H₂L) of composition Ni(HL)₂ · 2H₂O was synthesized. The compound is diamagnetic, which suggests the square-planar structure of a NiN₄ coordination unit. The electronic absorption spectroscopy and EPR methods were used to study its oxidative dehydrogenation in benzene resulting in a compound containing nitroxyl radicals Ni(HL^·)₂ and exhibiting strong antiferromagnetic exchange coupling of unpaired electrons of the radicals. An intermediate paramagnetic form Ni(HL)(HL^·) was discovered by the EPR method.     

Kinetics of radical decomposition of di(tert-butyl) trioxide

The kinetics of radical decomposition of di(tert-butyl) trioxide was studied by spectrophotometry from the consumption of an acceptor of free radicals, 2,6-di(tert-butyl)-4-methylphenol, in CFCl₃ and CH₂Cl₂ (in the latter case, in the presence of 0.1M Bu^tOOH). The activation parameters of the reaction (log(A/s ⁻¹)=14.8±1.2 and 14.1±1.6,E _a=21.6±1.4 and 20.1±1.9 kcal mol⁻¹ in CFCl₃ and CH₂Cl₂, respectively) and the probability of radical escape to the bulk (e=0.9±0.1) were determined. The known experimental and calculated values of the O−OO bond strength in trioxides were analyzed. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 1, pp. 61–65, January, 1999.     

Pulse radiolytic reduction studies of 1,4,4a,8a-tetrahydro-endo–1,4-methano-naphtha-5,8-dione (THMND): effect of tertiary structure

Radiolytic reduction of a substituted 5,8-naptha dione (THMND), synthesized in our laboratory, has been investigated by pulse radiolysis and steady-state -radiolysis in pure aqueous, aqueous-formate and in aqueous-2-propanol-acetone mixed solvent systems. The rate constants of formation of the semi-dione radicals were approx. 10⁹ dm³ mol^-1 s^-1 in aqueous-formate and aqueous-2-propanol-acetone mixed solvent. The semi-dione radicals decay by second order kinetics with rate constants (2k) of about 10⁹ and 10⁸ dm³ mol^-1 s^-1 in the above two solvents, respectively. The pK _a value of the radical was found to be 5.0 in aqueous-formate solution and 5.8 in the aqueous-2-propanol-acetone mixed solvent. The one-electron reduction potential (E ¹) value at pH 7, determined from the pulse-radiolysis experiment, was found to be –420 ± 20 mVvs. NHE at 298 K and was independent of solvent. Ab initio calculations on its one-electron reduction reaction suggest the formation of a radical, which is different from a semiquinone where the electron density is delocalised over the two oxygen atoms. Experimental absorption maxima of the radical in aqueous solution also agree very well with the ab initio calculated values. Steady-state -radiolysis of THMND produces the corresponding two-electron reduced species.     

Rates of addition of tert-butyl and pivaloyl radicals to acrylonitrile measured by modulated ESR and μSR spectroscopy

For the rate constant of addition of tert-butyl radicals to acrylonitrile at T = 300 K in solution modulated ESR spectroscopy and muon spin rotation yield 10⁶ M^?1 s^?1 and 2.4 × 10⁶ M^?1 s^?1. The addition of pivaloyl radical to acrylonitrile proceeds with Arrhenius parameters log A/M^?1 s^?1 = 7.7 and E_a = 11.5 kJ/ mol. The results are discussed in terms of polar effects in radical addition reactions.