Effect of the medium on the reactivity of fullerene N60 with respect to the peroxide radicals RO2 ·. Chemiluminescence in the C60—AIBN—O2—C2H5Ph—PhH system

Chemiluminescence (CL), HLPC, and volumetry were used to demonstrate that fullerene N₆₀ exerts no inhibiting effect on the liquid-phase chain oxidation of hydrocarbons. Peroxide radicals RO₂ · do not add to N₆₀ in hydrocarbons with active C—H bond, because the reaction is suppressed by the competing addition of RO₂ · to the hydrocarbon. The addition of RO₂ · radicals to N₆₀ does occur in benzene (a solvent with strong C—H bonds) in the presence of low concentrations of the hydrocarbon oxidized. Fullerene N₆₀ is found to exhibit a new type of liquid_phase CL, which is presumably generated upon thermal decomposition of fullerene peroxides formed by adding peroxy radicals to fullerene in the C₆₀—AIBN—O₂—C₂H₅Ph—PhH system. The CL spectrum exhibits long-wavelength maxima at 645 and 685 nm. The supposed CL emitters are keto derivatives of fullerene N₆₀.     

Intramolecular chain reaction of artemisinin oxidation

The intramolecular chain oxidation of artemisinin was analyzed using the parabolic model. The competition of the mono- and bimolecular peroxy radicals formed from artemisinin was considered. Artemisinin is predominantly oxidized via the intramolecular chain mechanism to form polyatomic hydroperoxides. This results in the situation when, under aerobic conditions, artemisinin is transformed from the monofunctional into polyfunctional initiator with several hydroperoxide groups. The enthalpy was calculated, and the activation energies and rate constants of the intramolecular reactions of the artemisinin peroxy radicals, as well as those of their bimolecular reactions with C-H, S-H, and O-H bonds of biological substrates and their analogs, were calculated in the framework of the parabolic model. A new kinetic scheme for artemisinin oxidation was proposed. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 2, pp. 267–275, February, 2008.     

Reactions of alkoxy and peroxy radicals with carbon monoxide

Experimental rate constants of the reactions HO^· + CO → H^· + CO₂, RO^· + CO → R^· + CO₂, HO ₂ ^· + CO → HO^· + CO₂, and RO ₂ ^· + CO → RO^· + CO₂ are analyzed in the framework of the intersecting-parabolas model. The transition states of the additions of the methoxy and methylperoxy radicals to carbon monoxide were calculated by quantum-chemical methods. The reactions occur in two consecutive steps: first the HO^· (RO^·, RO ₂ ^· ) radical adds to CO and then the resulting unstable intermediate radical decomposes to evolve CO₂. The kinetic parameters of these reactions are calculated by two methods (using the intersecting-parabolas model and the quantum-chemical method). The activation energies and rate constants of a series of R _i O^· + CO and R _i O ₂ ^· + CO reactions are calculated. A comparison of the kinetic parameters suggests close similarity between the transition states in the additions of the O-centered radicals to CO and olefins.     

Field measurement of the organic peroxy radicals by the low-pressure reactor plus laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy

A low-pressure reactor (LPR) was developed for the measurement of ambient organic peroxy (RO₂) radicals with the use of the laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) instrument. The reactor converts all the RO_x (= RO₂ + HO₂ + RO + OH) radicals into HO₂ radicals. It can conduct different measurement modes through altering the reagent gases, achieving the speciated measurement of RO₂ and RO₂^# (RO₂ radicals derived from the long-chain alkane, alkene and aromatic hydrocarbon). An example of field measurement results was given, with a maximum concentration of 1.88 × 10⁸ molecule/cm³ for RO₂ and 1.18 × 10⁸ molecule/cm³ for RO₂^#. Also, this instrument quantifies the local ozone production rates directly, which can help to deduce the regional ozone control strategy from an experimental perspective. The new device can serve as a potent tool for both the exploration of frontier chemistry and the diagnosis of the control strategies.     

Atmospheric peroxy radicals: ROXMAS,a new mass-spectrometric methodology for speciated measurements of HO2 and ∑RO2 and first results

ROXMAS (ROx Chemical Conversion/CIMS), a novel method for atmospheric speciated measurements of HO₂ and the sum of organic peroxy radicals (∑RO₂) developed by MPI-K, has been successfully deployed in a field campaign on Monte Cimone, Italy, June-July 2000. The method relies on amplifying chemical conversion of peroxy radicals to gaseous sulfuric acid via the chain reaction with NO and SO₂ and detection of the sulfuric acid by CIMS. Speciated measurements have been realized by diluting atmospheric air in either N₂ or O₂ buffer, thus exploiting the dependence of the conversion efficiency of RO₂ to HO₂ on [O₂], [NO], and [SO₂]. Speciated measurements of HO₂ and RO₂ are required to provide further insight into radical partitioning and thus to elucidate further the mechanisms of the oxidation of volatile organic compounds in the troposphere. This methodology yields useful speciated results for atmospheric conditions where CH₃O₂ makes a major contribution to total RO₂. Under other conditions it gives an upper limit for [HO₂] and a lower limit for [∑RO₂].     

Kinetics and mechanism of the liquid-phase oxidation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis>-carboxylic acids

Short reaction chains participate in the oxidation of C₃-C₆, C₈, C₁₀, and C₁₂ n-carboxylic acids. The quadratic-law recombination of peroxy radicals occurs both without and with chain termination. The ratio of the rate constants of these reactions increases to k′/k _t = 4.5 on passing from propanoic acid to pentanoic acid, and then it decreases almost to zero for dodecanoic acid. The anomalous variation of the k′/k _t ratio is explained by the fact that the radicals resulting from carboxylic acid oxidation at the CH bonds nearest to the functional group make different contributions to the recombination process, depending on the carbon chain length. The cross recombination of secondary hydrocarbon peroxy radicals with the HO₂^· radicals resulting from the oxidation of carboxylic acids at the β-C-H bonds proceeds without chain termination.     

Inertness of C<Subscript>60</Subscript> fullerene toward RO<Subscript>2</Subscript><Superscript>·</Superscript> peroxy radicals

The reactivity of fullerene C₆₀ toward peroxy radicals RO₂ ^· was tested by the chemiluminescence method. A comparison of the influence of C₆₀ and known inhibitors on the kinetics of liquid-phase chemiluminescence (CL) during oxidation of a series of hydrocarbons (ethyl-benzene, cyclohexane, n-dodecane, and oleic acid) shows that the fullerene does not react with the RO₂ ^· radicals. A sharp decrease in the CL intensity observed upon C₆₀ addition is caused by the quenching of CL emitters with fullerene but not by inhibition of hydrocarbon oxidation. __________ Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 8, pp. 1808–1811, August, 2005.     

Photochemical production of ozone in marine boundary layer in the sea of Japan: Results of the Rishiri Fall Experiment campaign

The Rishiri Fall Experiment (RISFEX ) campaign was performed in September 2003 at Rishiri island (45.07 N, 141.12 E, and 35 m asl) in the sea of Japan to investigate photochemical production of ozone in the marine boundary layer. Total peroxy radicals RO _x (HO₂ + RO₂) and NO _x (NO + NO₂) were measured together with other chemical species and physical parameters relevant to ozone production. The ozone production rate (P(O₃)) was estimated from measured peroxy radicals and was found to be highly variable between days, with 30-min averaged midday values varying from 0.2 to 1.7 ppbv/h (ppbv refers to part per billion by volume). The daytime mean P(O₃) for the air masses from relatively clean NE sector is close to zero, but significantly higher for air masses from more polluted W and SE sector, suggesting the impact of transport of pollutants on the remote local ozone production. The experimentally determined P(O₃) is compared with those derived from a time-dependent box model based on Regional Atmospheric Chemistry Modeling (RACM), and both the methods give the results generally in agreement. The model calculation shows that HO₂ + NO reaction contributes most to ozone production, ca. 60% at midday, followed by the reactions of CH₃O₂ and ISOP (peroxy radicals formed from isoprene) with NO which account for ca. 13% and 10% to ozone production, respectively, at noon. Sensitivity analysis indicates that the ozone production during the measurement period is within NO _x -limited regime.     

Accretion Product Formation from Self‐ and Cross‐Reactions of RO2 Radicals in the Atmosphere

Hydrocarbons are emitted into the Earth's atmosphere in very large quantities by human and biogenic activities. Their atmospheric oxidation processes almost exclusively yield RO₂ radicals as reactive intermediates whose atmospheric fate is not yet fully unraveled. Herein, we show that gas‐phase reactions of two RO₂ radicals produce accretion products composed of the carbon backbone of both reactants. The rates for accretion product formation are very high for RO₂ radicals bearing functional groups, competing with those of the corresponding reactions with NO and HO₂. This pathway, which has not yet been considered in the modelling of atmospheric processes, can be important, or even dominant, for the fate of RO₂ radicals in all areas of the atmosphere. Moreover, the vapor pressure of the formed accretion products can be remarkably low, characterizing them as an effective source for the secondary organic aerosol.     

Direct Observation of Aliphatic Peroxy Radical Autoxidation and Water Effects: An Experimental and Theoretical Study

The autoxidation of organic peroxy radicals (RO₂) into hydroperoxy‐alkyl radicals (QOOH), then hydroperoxy‐peroxy radicals (HOOQO₂) is now considered to be important in the Earth's atmosphere. To avoid mechanistic uncertainties these reactions are best studied by monitoring the radicals. But for the volatile and aliphatic RO₂ radicals playing key roles in the atmosphere this has long been an instrumental challenge. This work reports the first study of the autoxidation of aliphatic RO₂ radicals and is based on monitoring RO₂ and HOOQO₂ radicals. The rate coefficients, k_iso (s^?1), were determined both experimentally and theoretically using MC‐TST kinetic theory based on CCSD(T)//M06‐2X quantum chemical methodologies. The results were in excellent agreement and confirmed that the first H‐migration is strongly rate‐limiting in the oxidation of non‐oxygenated volatile organic compounds (VOCs). At higher relative humidity (2–30 %) water complexes were evidenced for HOOQO₂ radicals, which could be an important fate for HOO‐substituted RO₂ radicals in the atmosphere.     

Radical reactions in the coordination field of transition metals. VII—H-transfer between phenolic and aryl-aminic H-donors and their radicals

An ESR method for studying the mechanism of H-transfer reactions between H-donors of different reactivity (A₁H, A₂H…) and their free radicals (A₁; A₂^.…) in non-polar solvents at ambient temperature is presented. The new technique is based on a pulsed initiation of various secondary phenoxy or nitroxy radicals in binary mixtures of hindered phenols, unhindered phenols, partially hindered thiobisphenols and diphenylamine, employing a high concentration of free RO₂^. and coordinated (Co^III)RO₂^. tert-butyl peroxy radicals generated in the redox-reaction of Co(acac)₂ with tert-butyl hydroperoxide. The consecutive H-transfer reactions proceed to equilibrium until the most stable radicals are formed. In this way criteria are obtained for ranking the compared free and coordinated phenoxy radicals according to their relative stabilities. The secondarily generated phenoxy radicals from unhindered phenols after coordination to Co^III are stabilized and cannot take part in further H-transfer reactions.     

Mechanism of propagation and degenerate chain branching in the oxidation of polypropylene and polyethylene

Samples of polypropylene with adjacent and isolated hydroperoxide groups have been prepared. The rate constants of free-radical formation from solid hydroperoxides were measured by the inhibitor method. It was found that the free radicals yielded by adjacent hydroperoxide groups are formed more rapidly. The main reaction of free-radical formation in oxidized polypropylene is of the type: ROOH + ROOH → RO + H₂O + RO₂^˙. The average yield of free radicals from polypropylene hydroperoxide is 2–4%. Oxygen has no effect on the yield of free radicals. However, the pressure of oxygen Po₂ affects the rate of degenerate chain branching in polypropylene. The number of adjacent hydroperoxide groups and the rate of initiation increase with Po₂. Consequently, a reaction of the type, R^˙, + RH → RH + R^˙, plays an important part in transport of free valence through solid polymer. This reaction is very fast in polyethylene, and no adjacent hydroperoxide groups are formed. The free radicals from polyethylene hydroperoxide are found to form by a reaction of the type: ROOH → RO^˙ + HO^˙.     

Competition between mono-and bimolecular reactions of artemisinin alkoxyl radicals

The competition between intramolecular and bimolecular reactions of alkoxyl radicals formed from artemisinin was theoretically analyzed. The enthalpies of these reactions were calculated. The activation energies and rate constants of reactions of intramolecular hydrogen atom transfer, decyclization, and decomposition of alkoxyl radicals of artemisinin and several its derivatives, as well as the activation energies and rate constants of reactions of these radicals with the C-H, S-H, and O-H bonds in biological substrates and their analogs were calculated by the intersecting parabolas method The fastest reactions of artemisinin alkoxyl radicals were identified. The full kinetic scheme of transformation of these radicals was proposed. Artemisinin radicals with the free valence on the carbon atom are predominantly formed due to the transformation of the artemisininoxyl radicals. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 9, pp. 1502–1510, September, 2006.     

EPR investigation of plasma-chemical resist etching in O2 and O2/CF4 discharges

During the etching of AZ 1350 photoresist in O₂ and O₂/CF₄ discharges, ground-state concentrations of atoms (O, F, and H), and small radicals (OH, HO₂, RO₂) were measured in the discharge afterglow by EPR spectroscopy. In the case of CF₄/O₂ discharges, the dependence of O and F atom concentrations on the etch time reflects both surfäce oxidation and fluorination reactions in accordance with existing etch models. In the case of high-rate resist etching in pure O₂ discharges, high concentrations of product radicals (H, OH and HO₂) were detected and compared with resist free O₂/H₂O discharges. Kinetic modeling of the afterglow reactions reveals that the mean lifetime and, accordingly, the diffusion length of the etchant species O(³P) is drastically reduced in rapid reactions with OH and HO₂. The results are used to simulate both etch homogeneity and the loading effect in a simple etch model.     

Hydroxyl mechanism of the antimalarial effect of artemisinin and its analogs

Kinetic schemes for the intramolecular oxidation of four artemisinin analogs, which are used as drugs against malaria, were developed. Each stage of the kinetic scheme is characterized by the enthalpy, activation energy, and rate constant calculated using the model of intersecting parabolas. The competition of mono- and bimolecular radical reactions was taken into account when developing the schemes. The hydroperoxide groups are formed as a result of the intramolecular oxidation of these compounds and generate free radicals in the reaction with Fe^II. Among these free radicals, hydroxyl radicals play the key role, since their yield (n _OH) correlates with the antimalarial activity of the peroxide compound. The efficiency of the drug (index IC₅₀) exponentially depends on n _OH and is expressed by the formula IC₅₀(Artemisinin)/IC₅₀(Compound) = 1.54·10⁻⁶exp(3.9n _OH). The elementary reactions resulting in the generation of hydroxyl radicals are considered. It is supposed that DNA of a malaria parasite is the main biological target for hydroxyl radicals.     

Electrochemical oxidation of phenol on boron-doped diamond electrode

The process of phenol oxidation on a boron-doped diamond electrode (BDD) is studied in acidic electrolytes under different conditions of generation of active oxygen forms (AOFs). The scheme of phenol oxidation known from the literature for other electrode materials is confirmed. Phenol is oxidized through a number of intermediates (benzoquinone, carboxylic acids) to carbon dioxide and water. Comparative analysis of phenol oxidation rate constants is performed as dependent on the electrolysis conditions: direct anodic oxidation, with oxygen bubbling, and addition of H₂O₂. A scheme is confirmed according to which active radicals (OH^·, HO₂^·, HO₂⁻) are formed on a BDD anode that can oxidize the substrate which leads to formation of organic radicals interacting with each other and forming condensation products. Processes with participation of free radicals (chain-radical mechanism) play an important role in electrochemical oxidation on BDD. Intermediates and polymeric substances (polyphenols, quinone structures, and resins) are formed. An excess of the oxidant (H₂O₂) promotes a more effective oxidation of organic radicals and accordingly inhibition of the condensation process.     

Some observations on the kinetics and thermochemistry of the reactions of HO2 radicals with aldehydes and ketones

The rapid, gas phase equilibrium addition of HO₂ radicals to CH₂O to form the peroxy radical HOCH₂OO^? is in agreement with the known thermochemistry of these species. The recent study of the similar addition of HO₂^? to ketones shows no significant reaction, which is again in agreement with known thermochemistry. All these reactions are notable for significant dipole attraction between the reactants ranging from 3 to 7 kcal/mol. The thermochemistry shows that the hydroperoxyl alkoxy species, the primary possible adduct, is not favored by the free energy change for direct addition. This and the observed kinetics favor a concerted addition, H‐atom transfer, as the transition state for the reactions. Kinetic estimates for forward and reverse reactions are in good agreement with observations. A thermochemical examination of the step‐wise addition of HO₂^? to the carbonyl shows that the reaction proceeds through a concerted, cyclic transition state involving simultaneous H‐transfer, 3 + 2 cyclo‐addition of HO₂^? to the carbonyl group. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 33: 509–512, 2001     

Dissociation energies of O-H bonds in natural antioxidants

The dissociation energies of O-H bonds in natural antioxidants were estimated from the kinetic data (rate constants of reactions of the antioxidants with the peroxy radicals). The calculations were performed using the method of intersecting parabolas. α-Tocopherol was used as a reference phenol with D _O-H = 330 kJ mol⁻¹. The following groups of antioxidants were chosen for the estimation: tocopherols, their sulfur- and selenium-containing analogs, flavones, flavanones, and gallates. The discrepancy in the D _O-H values for the same phenol by measurements of k(RO₂ ^· + ArOH) of different authors does not exceed 2 kJ mol⁻¹. The D _O-H values were calculated for 64 phenols. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 9, pp. 1824–1832, September, 2008.     

Synthesis of new functionalized 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline 1-oxides and their investigation as spin traps

The reactions of 5,5-dimethyl-3-oxo-1-pyrroline 1-oxide (3-oxo-DMPO, 1) with NH₂OH and N₂H₄ afforded oxime (2a) and hydrazone (2b), respectively. The reaction products were studied as spin traps for the short-lived radicals HO^·, Ph^·, PhCO₂ ^·, NC(Me₂)C^·, and NC(Me₂)CO^·. The nitroxides generated in the reactions of the above-mentioned short-lived radicals with nitrones 1 and 2a,b were characterized by ESR spectroscopy. Of these nitrones, oxime 2a is the most effective radical trap.     

Water effect on peroxy radical measurement by chemical amplification: Experimental determination and chemical mechanism

The water effect on peroxy radical measurement by chemical amplification was determined experimentally for HO2 and HO2 OH, respectively at room temperature (298±2) K and atmospheric pressure (1×105 Pa). No significant difference in water effect was observed with the type of radicals. A theoretical study of the reaction of HO2·H2O adduct with NO was performed using density functional theory at CCSD(T)/6-311 G(2d, 2p)//B3LYP/6-311 G(2d, 2p) level of theory. It was found that the primary reaction channel for the reaction is HO2·H2O NO→HNO3 H2O (R4a). On the basis of the theoretical study, the rate constant for (R4a) was calculated using Polyrate Version 8.02 program. The fitted Arrenhnius equation for (R4a) is k = 5.49×107 T 1.03exp(?14798/T) between 200 and 2000 K. A chemical model incorporated with (R4a) was used to simulate the water effect. The water effect curve obtained by the model is in accordance with that of the experiment, suggesting that the water effect is probably caused mainly by (R4a).