Theoretical reduction potentials for nitrogen oxides from CBS-QB3 energetics and (C)PCM solvation calculations

The complete basis set method, CBS-QB3, is used in combination with two continuum solvation models for aqueous solvation to compute reduction potentials previously determined experimentally for 36 nitrogen oxides and related species of the general formula H(V)C(W)N(X)O(Y)Cl(Z). The PCM model led to the correlation E(o)exp (vs NHE) = 0.84E(o)calc + 0.03 V with an average error of 0.12 V (2.8 kcal/mol) and a maximum error of 0.32 V (7.4 kcal/mol). The CPCM/UAKS model gave E(o)exp (vs NHE) = 0.83E(o)calc + 0.11 V with the same average error. This general method was used to predict reduction potentials (+/-0.3 V) for nitrogen oxides for which reduction potentials are not known with certainty: NO2/NO2- (0.6 V), NO3/NO3- (1.9 V), N2O3-/N2O3(2-) (0.5 V), HN2O3/HN2O3- (0.9 V), HONNO,H+/HONNOH (1.6 V), 2NO,H+/HONNO (0.0 V), 2NO/ONNO- (-0.1 V), ONNO-/ONNO(2-) (-0.4 V), HNO,H+/H2NO (0.6 V), H2NO,H+/H2NOH (0.9 V), HNO,2H+/H2NOH (0.8 V), and HNO/HNO- (-0.7 V).     

Disproportionation pathways of aqueous hyponitrite radicals (HN2O2(*)/N2O2(*-))

Pulse radiolysis and flash photolysis are used to generate the hyponitrite radicals (HN2O2(*)/N2O2(*-)) by one-electron oxidation of the hyponitrite in aqueous solution. Although the radical decay conforms to simple second-order kinetics, its mechanism is complex, comprising a short chain of NO release-consumption steps. In the first, rate-determining step, two N2O2(*-) radicals disproportionate with the rate constant 2k = (8.2 +/- 0.5) x 10(7) M(-1) s(-1) (at zero ionic strength) effectively in a redox reaction regenerating N2O2(2-) and releasing two NO. This occurs either by electron transfer or, more likely, through radical recombination-dissociation. Each NO so-produced rapidly adds to another N2O2(*-), yielding the N3O3(-) ion, which slowly decomposes at 300 s(-1) to the final N2O + NO2(-) products. The N2O2(*-) radical protonates with pKa = 5.6 +/- 0.3. The neutral HN2O2(*) radical decays by an analogous mechanism but much more rapidly with the apparent second-order rate constant 2k = (1.1 +/- 0.1) x 10(9) M(-1) s(-1). The N2O2(*-) radical shows surprisingly low reactivity toward O2 and O2(*-), with the corresponding rate constants below 1 x 10(6) and 5 x 10(7) M(-1) s(-1). The previously reported rapid dissociation of N2O2(*-) into N2O and O(*-) does not occur. The thermochemistry of HN2O2(*)/N2O2(*-) is discussed in the context of these new kinetic and mechanistic results.     

Kinetic and thermodynamic properties of the aminoxyl (NH2O*) radical

The product of one-electron oxidation of (or H-atom abstraction from) hydroxylamine is the H2NO* radical. H2NO* is a weak acid and deprotonates to form HNO-*; the pKa(H2NO*) value is 12.6+/-0.3. Irrespective of the protonation state, the second-order recombination of the aminoxyl radical yields N2 as the sole nitrogen-containing product. The following rate constants were determined: kr(2H2NO*)=1.4x10(8) M-1 s-1, kr(H2NO*+HNO-*)=2.5x10(9) M-1 s-1, and kr(2HNO-*)=4.5x10(8) M-1 s-1. The HNO-* radical reacts with O2 in an electron-transfer reaction to yield nitroxyl (HNO) and superoxide (O2-*), with a rate constant of ke(HNO-*+O2-->HNO+O2-*)=2.2x10(8) M-1 s-1. Both O2 and O2-* seem to react with deprotonated hydroxylamine (H2NO-) to set up an autoxidative chain reaction. However, closer analysis indicates that these reactions might not occur directly but are probably mediated by transition-metal ions, even in the presence of chelators, such as ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) or diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA). The following standard aqueous reduction potentials were derived: E degrees (H2NO*,2H+/H3NOH+)=1.25+/-0.01 V; E degrees (H2NO*,H+/H2NOH)=0.90+/-0.01 V; and E degrees (H2NO*/H2NO-)=0.09+/-0.01 V. In addition, we estimate the following: E degrees (H2NOH+*/H2NOH)=1.3+/-0.1 V, E degrees (HNO, H+/H2NO*)=0.52+/-0.05 V, and E degrees (HNO/HNO-*)=-0.22+/-0.05 V. From the data, we also estimate the gaseous O-H and N-H bond dissociation enthalpy (BDE) values in H2NOH, with BDE(H2NO-H)=75-77 kcal/mol and BDE(H-NHOH)=81-82 kcal/mol. These values are in good agreement with quantum chemical computations.     

Not Limited to Iron: A Cobalt Heme–NO Model Facilitates N–N Coupling with External NO in the Presence of a Lewis Acid to Generate N2O

Some bacterial heme proteins catalyze the coupling of two NO molecules to generate N₂O. We previously reported that a heme Fe–NO model engages in this N?N bond‐forming reaction with NO. We now demonstrate that (OEP)Co^II(NO) similarly reacts with 1 equiv of NO in the presence of the Lewis acids BX₃ (X=F, C₆F₅) to generate N₂O. DFT calculations support retention of the Co^II oxidation state for the experimentally observed adduct (OEP)Co^II(NO?BF₃), the presumed hyponitrite intermediate (P^.+)Co^II(ONNO?BF₃), and the porphyrin π‐radical cation by‐product of this reaction, and that the π‐radical cation formation likely occurs at the hyponitrite stage. In contrast, the Fe analogue undergoes a ferrous‐to‐ferric oxidation state conversion during this reaction. Our work shows that cobalt hemes are chemically competent to engage in the NO‐to‐N₂O conversion reaction.     

Kinetic and product study of the gas-phase reactions of OH radicals, NO(3) radicals, and O(3) with (C(2)H(5)O)(2)P(S)CH(3) and (C(2)H(5)O)(3)PS

Rate constants for the reactions of OH radicals and NO3 radicals with O,O-diethyl methylphosphonothioate [(C(2)H(5)O)(2)P(S)CH(3); DEMPT] and O,O,O-triethyl phosphorothioate [(C(2)H(5)O)(3)PS; TEPT] have been measured using relative rate methods at atmospheric pressure of air over the temperature range 296-348 K for the OH radical reactions and at 296 +/- 2 K for the NO(3) radical reactions. At 296 +/- 2 K, the rate constants obtained for the OH radical reactions (in units of 10(-11) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1)) were 20.4 +/- 0.8 and 7.92 +/- 0.27 for DEMPT and TEPT, respectively, and those for the NO(3) radical reactions (in units of 10(-15) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1)) were 2.01 +/- 0.20 and 1.03 +/- 0.10, respectively. Upper limits to the rate constants for the reactions of O(3) with DEMPT and TEPT of <6 x 10(-20) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1) were determined in each case. Rate constants for the OH radical reactions, measured relative to k(OH + alpha-pinene) = 1.21 x 10(-11) e(436/T) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1), resulted in the Arrhenius expressions k(OH + DEMPT) = 1.08 x 10(-11) e(871+/-25)/T cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1) and k(OH + TEPT) = 8.21 x 10(-13) e(1353+/-49)/T cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1) over the temperature range 296-348 K, where the indicated errors are two least-squares standard deviations and do not include the uncertainties in the reference rate constant. Diethyl methylphosphonate was identified and quantified from the OH radical and NO(3) radical reactions with DEMPT, with formation yields of 21 +/- 4%, independent of temperature, from the OH radical reaction and 62 +/- 11% from the NO(3) radical reaction at 296 +/- 2 K. Similarly, triethyl phosphate was identified and quantified from the OH radical and NO(3) radical reactions with TEPT, with formation yields of 56 +/- 9%, independent of temperature, from the OH radical reaction and 78 +/- 15% from the NO(3) radical reaction at 296 +/- 2 K.     

Generation and reactivity of ketyl radicals with lignin related structures. On the importance of the ketyl pathway in the photoyellowing of lignin containing pulps and papers

[reaction: see text] Ketyl radicals with lignin related structures have been generated by means of radiation chemical and photochemical techniques. In the former studies ketyl radicals are produced by reaction of alpha-carbonyl-beta-aryl ether lignin models with the solvated electron produced by pulse radiolysis of an aqueous solution at pH 6.0. The UV-vis spectra of ketyl radicals are characterized by three main absorption bands. The shape and position of these bands slightly change when the spectra are recorded in alkaline solution (pH 11.0) being now assigned to the ketyl radical anions and a pKa = 9.5 is determined for the 1-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-2-phenoxyethanol-1-yl radical. Decay rates of ketyl radicals are found to be dose dependent and, at low doses, lie in the range (1.7-2.7) x 10(3) s(-1). In the presence of oxygen a fast decay of the ketyl radicals is observed (k2 = 1.8-2.7 x 10(9) M(-1) s(-1)) that is accompanied by the formation of stable products, i.e., the starting ketones. In the photochemical studies ketyl radicals have been produced by charge-transfer (CT) photoactivation of the electron donor-acceptor salts of methyl viologen (MV2+) with alpha-hydroxy-alpha-phenoxymethyl-aryl acetates. This process leads to the instantaneous formation of the reduced acceptor (methyl viologen radical cation, MV+*), as is clearly shown in a laser flash photolysis experiment by the two absorption bands centered at 390 and 605 nm, and an acyloxyl radical [ArC(CO2*))(OH)CH2(OC6H5)], which undergoes a very fast decarboxylation with formation of the ketyl radicals. Steady-state photoirradiation of the CT ion pairs indicates that 1-aryl-2-phenoxyethanones are formed as primary photoproducts by oxidation of ketyl radicals by MV2+ (under argon) or by molecular oxygen. Small amounts of acetophenones are formed by further photolysis of 1-aryl-2-phenoxyethanones and not by beta-fragmentation of the ketyl radicals. The high reactivity of ketyl radicals with oxygen coupled with the low rates of beta-fragmentation of the same species have an important bearing in the context of the photoyellowing of lignin containing pulps and papers.     

Kinetics and products of the gas-phase reactions of divinyl sulfoxide with OH and NO3 radicals and O3

Using relative rate methods, rate constants for the gas-phase reactions of divinyl sulfoxide [CH 2CHS(O)CHCH 2; DVSO] with NO 3 radicals and O 3 have been measured at 296 +/- 2 K, and rate constants for the reaction with OH radicals have been measured over the temperature range of 277-349 K. Rate constants obtained for the NO 3 radical and O 3 reactions at 296 +/- 2 K were (6.1 +/- 1.4) x 10 (-16) and (4.3 +/- 1.0) x 10 (-19) cm (3) molecule (-1) s (-1), respectively. For the OH radical reaction, the temperature-dependent rate expression obtained was k = 4.17 x 10 (-12)e ((858 +/- 141)/ T ) cm (3) molecule (-1) s (-1) with a 298 K rate constant of (7.43 +/- 0.71) x 10 (-11) cm (3) molecule (-1) s (-1), where, in all cases, the errors are two standard deviations and do not include the uncertainties in the rate constants for the reference compounds. Divinyl sulfone was observed as a minor product of both the OH radical and NO 3 radical reactions at 296 +/- 2 K. Using in situ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, CO, CO 2, SO 2, HCHO, and divinyl sulfone were observed as products of the OH radical reaction, with molar formation yields of 35 +/- 11, 2.2 +/- 0.8, 33 +/- 4, 54 +/- 6, and 5.4 +/- 0.8%, respectively, in air. For the experimental conditions employed, aerosol formation from the OH radical-initiated reaction of DVSO in the presence of NO was minor, being approximately 1.5%. The data obtained here for DVSO are compared with literature data for the corresponding reactions of dimethyl sulfoxide.     

Kinetics of the reactions of chlorinated methyl radicals (CH2Cl, CHCl2, and CCl3) with NO2 in the temperature range 220-360 K

The kinetics of the reactions of chlorinated methyl radicals (CH2Cl, CHCl2, and CCl3) with NO2 have been studied in direct measurements at temperatures between 220 and 360 K using a tubular flow reactor coupled to a photoionization mass spectrometer. The radicals have been homogeneously generated at 193 or 248 nm by pulsed laser photolysis of appropriate precursors. Decays of radical concentrations have been monitored in time-resolved measurements to obtain the reaction rate coefficients under pseudo-first-order conditions with the amount of NO2 being in large excess over radical concentrations. The bimolecular rate coefficients of all three reactions are independent of the bath gas (He or N2) and pressure within the experimental range (1-6 Torr) and are found to depend on temperature as follows: k(CH2Cl + NO2) = (2.16 +/- 0.08) x 10(-11) (T/300 K)(-1.12+/-0.24) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1) (220-363 K), k(CHCl2 + NO2) = (8.90 +/- 0.16) x 10(-12) (T/300 K)(-1.48+/-0.13) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1) (220-363 K), and k(CCl3 + NO2) = (3.35 +/- 0.10) x 10(-12) (T/300 K)(-2.2+/-0.4) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1) (298-363 K), with the uncertainties given as one-standard deviations. Estimated overall uncertainties in the measured bimolecular reaction rate coefficients are about +/-25%. In the reactions CH2Cl + NO2, CHCl2 + NO2, and CCl3 + NO2, the products observed are formaldehyde, CHClO, and phosgene (CCl2O), respectively. In addition, a weak signal for the HCl formation has been detected for the CHCl2 + NO2 reaction.     

Atmospheric chemistry of CH3CHF2 (HFC-152a): kinetics, mechanisms, and products of Cl atom- and OH radical-initiated oxidation in the presence and absence of NO(x)

Smog chamber/Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) spectroscopic techniques were used to study the atmospheric degradation of CH3CHF2. The kinetics and products of the Cl(2P(3/2)) (denoted Cl) atom- and the OH radical-initiated oxidation of CH3CHF2 in 700 Torr of air or N2; diluents at 295 +/- 2 K were studied using smog chamber/FTIR techniques. Relative rate methods were used to measure k(Cl + CH3CHF2) = (2.37 +/- 0.31) x 10(-13) and k(OH + CH3CHF2) = (3.08 +/- 0.62) x 10(-14) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1). Reaction with Cl atoms gives CH3CF2 radicals in a yield of 99.2 +/- 0.1% and CH2CHF2 radicals in a yield of 0.8 +/- 0.1%. Reaction with OH radicals gives CH3CF2 radicals in a yield >75% and CH2CHF2 radicals in a yield <25%. Absolute rate data for the Cl reaction were measured using quantum-state selective LIF detection of Cl(2P(j)) atoms under pseudo-first-order conditions. The rate constant k(Cl + CH3CHF2) was determined to be (2.54 +/- 0.25) x 10(-13) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1) by the LIF technique, in good agreement with the relative rate results. The removal rate of spin-orbit excited-state Cl(2P(1/2)) (denoted Cl) in collisions with CH3CHF2 was determined to be k(Cl + CH3CHF2) = (2.21 +/- 0.22) x 10(-10) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1). The atmospheric photooxidation products were examined in the presence and absence of NO(x). In the absence of NO(x)(), the Cl atom-initiated oxidation of CH3CHF2 in air leads to formation of COF2 in a molar yield of 97 +/- 5%. In the presence of NO(x), the observed oxidation products include COF2 and CH3COF. As [NO] increases, the yield of COF2 decreases while the yield of CH3COF increases, reflecting a competition for CH3CF2O radicals. The simplest explanation for the observed dependence of the CH3COF yield on [NO(x)] is that the atmospheric degradation of CH3CF2H proceeds via OH radical attack to give CH3CF2 radicals which add O2 to give CH3CF2O2 radicals. Reaction of CH3CF2O2 radicals with NO gives a substantial fraction of chemically activated alkoxy radicals, [CH3CF2O]. In 1 atm of air, approximately 30% of the alkoxy radicals produced in the CH3CF2O2 + NO reaction possess sufficient internal excitation to undergo "prompt" (rate >10(10) s(-1)) decomposition to give CH3 radicals and COF2. The remaining approximately 70% become thermalized, CH3CF2O, and undergo decomposition more slowly at a rate of approximately 2 x 10(3) s(-1). At high concentrations (>50 mTorr), NO(x) is an efficient scavenger for CH3CF2O radicals leading to the formation of CH3COF and FNO.     

Incorporation of stable organic radicals of the tris(2,4, 6-trichlorophenyl)methyl radical series to pyrrole units as models for semiconducting polymers with high spin multiplicity. 1

The condensation reactions between (4-amino-2,6-dichlorophenyl)bis(2, 4,6-trichlorophenyl)methyl radical and acetylacetone or 1, 4-bis(5-methyl-2-thienyl)-1,4-butanedione yield [2,6-dichloro-4-(2, 5-dimethyl-1-pyrrolyl)phenyl]bis(2,4,6-trichlorophenyl)methyl radical (3(*)()) and [2,6-dichloro-4-[2, 5-bis(5-methyl-2-thienyl)-1-pyrrolyl]phenyl]bis(2,4, 6-trichlorophenyl)methyl radical (4(*)()), respectively. EPR studies of both radicals 3(*)() and 4(*)() in CH(2)Cl(2) solution suggest a weak electron delocalization with coupling constant values of 1.25 and 1.30 G, respectively, with the six aromatic hydrogens. Their electrochemical behavior was analyzed by cyclic voltammetry. Both radicals show reversible reduction processes at E degrees = -0.69 V and -0.61 V versus SSCE, respectively, and anodic peak potentials at E(p)(a) = 1.10 and 0.72 V, respectively, versus SSCE at a scan rate (nu) of 200 mV s(-)(1), being reversible for radical 4(*)(). X-ray analysis of radical 3(*)() shows a high value (65 degrees ) of the dihedral angle between the 2,5-dimethylpyrrolidyl moiety and the phenyl ring. Smooth oxidation of radical 4(*)() in CH(2)Cl(2) containing trifluoroacetic acid gives an ionic diradical species with a weak electron interaction (|D/hc| = 0.0047 cm(-)(1)). A Curie plot of the Deltam(s)() = +/-2 signal intensity versus the inverse of the absolute temperature in the range between 4 and 70 K suggests a triplet or a nearly degenerate singlet-triplet ground state.     

Synthesis and characterization of ruthenium bis(beta-diketonato) pyridine-imidazole complexes for hydrogen atom transfer

Ruthenium bis(beta-diketonato) complexes have been prepared at both the RuII and RuIII oxidation levels and with protonated and deprotonated pyridine-imidazole ligands. RuII(acac)2(py-imH) (1), [RuIII(acac)2(py-imH)]OTf (2), RuIII(acac)2(py-im) (3), RuII(hfac)2(py-imH) (4), and [DBU-H][RuII(hfac)2(py-im)] (5) have been fully characterized, including X-ray crystal structures (acac = 2,4-pentanedionato, hfac = 1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoro-2,4-pentanedionato, py-imH = 2-(2'-pyridyl)imidazole, DBU = 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene). For the acac-imidazole complexes 1 and 2, cyclic voltammetry in MeCN shows the RuIII/II reduction potential (E1/2) to be -0.64 V versus Cp2Fe+/0. E1/2 for the deprotonated imidazolate complex 3 (-1.00 V) is 0.36 V more negative. The RuII bis-hfac analogues 4 and 5 show the same DeltaE1/2 = 0.36 V but are 0.93 V harder to oxidize than the acac derivatives (0.29 and -0.07 V). The difference in acidity between the acac and hfac derivatives is much smaller, with pKa values of 22.1 and 19.3 in MeCN for 1 and 4, respectively. From the E1/2 and pKa values, the bond dissociation free energies (BDFEs) of the N-H bonds in 1 and 4 are calculated to be 62.0 and 79.6 kcal mol(-1) in MeCN - a remarkable difference of 17.6 kcal mol(-1) for such structurally similar compounds. Consistent with these values, there is a facile net hydrogen atom transfer from 1 to TEMPO* (2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl radical) to give 3 and TEMPO-H. The DeltaG degrees for this reaction is -4.5 kcal mol(-1). 4 is not oxidized by TEMPO* (DeltaG degrees = +13.1 kcal mol(-1)), but in the reverse direction TEMPO-H readily reduces in situ generated RuIII(hfac)2(py-im) (6). A RuII-imidazoline analogue of 1, RuII(acac)2(py-imnH) (7), reacts with 3 equiv of TEMPO* to give the imidazolate 3 and TEMPO-H, with dehydrogenation of the imidazoline ring.     

A controlled NO-releasing compound: synthesis,molecular structure,spectroscopy, electrochemistry,and chemical reactivity of R,R,S,S-trans-[RuCl(NO)(cyclam)]2+(1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane)

The synthesis of trans-[RuCl(NO)(cyclam)]2+ (cyclam = 1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane) can be accomplished by either the addition of cyclam to K2[RuCl5NO] or by the addition of NO to trans-[RuCl(CF3SO3)(cyclam)](CF3-SO3). Crystals of trans-[RuCl(NO)(cyclam)](ClO4)2 form in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/c, with unit cell parameters of a = 7.66500(2) A, b = 24.7244(1) A, c = 16.2871(2) A, beta = 95.2550(10) degrees, and Z = 4. One of the two independent molecules in the unit cell lies disordered on a center of symmetry. For the ion in the general position, the Ru-N and N-O bond distances and the [Ru-N-O]3+ bond angle are 1.747(4) A, 1.128(5) A, 178.0(4) degrees, respectively. In both ions, cyclam adopts the (R,R,S,S) configuration, which is also consistent with 2D COSY 1H NMR studies in aqueous solution. Reduction (E degree = -0.1 V) results in the rapid loss of Cl- by first-order kinetics with k = 1.5 s-1 and the slower loss of NO (k = 6.10 x 10(-4) s-1, delta H++ = 15.3 kcal mol-1, delta S++ = -21.8 cal mol-1 K-1). The slow release of NO following reduction causes trans-[RuCl(NO)(cyclam)]2+ to be a promising controlled-release NO prodrug for vasodilation and other purposes. Unlike the related complex trans-[Ru(NO)(NH3)4(P(OEt)3)](PF6)2, trans-[RuCl(NO)(cyclam)]Cl2 is inactive in modulating evoked potentials recorded from mice hippocampal slices probably because of the slower dissociation of NO following reduction.     

One-electron reduction of methanesulfonyl chloride. The fate of MeSO2Cl(.)(-) and MeSO2(.) intermediates in oxygenated solutions and their role in the cis-trans isomerization of mono-unsaturated fatty acids

The one-electron reduction of methanesulfonyl chloride (MeSO2Cl) leads, in the first instance, to an electron adduct MeSO2Cl(.)(-) which lives long enough for direct detection and decays into sulfonyl radicals MeSO2(.) and Cl(-), with k = 1.5 x 10(6) s(-1). Both, MeSO2Cl(.)(-) and MeSO2(.) showed a similar absorption in the UV with lambdamax of 320 nm. In the presence of oxygen, MeSO2Cl(.)(-) transfers an electron to O(2) and establishes an equilibrium with superoxide. The rate constant for the forward reaction was measured to 4.1 x 10(9) M(-1) s(-1), while for the back reaction only an interval of 1.7 x 10(5) to 1.7 x 10(6) M(-1) s(-1) could be estimated, with a somewhat higher degree of confidence for the lower value. This corresponds to an equilibrium constant in the range of 2.4 x 10(3) to 2.4 x 10(4). With reference to E degrees (O2/O2(.)(-)) = -155 mV, the redox potential of the sulfonyl chloride couple, E degrees (MeSO2Cl/MeSO2Cl(.)(-)), thus results between being equal to -355 and -414 mV (vs NHE). MeSO2Cl(.)(-) reduces (besides O2) 4-nitroacetophenone. The underlying electron transfer took place with k = 1.5 x 10(9) M(-1) s(-1), corroborating an E degrees for the sulfonyl chloride couple significantly exceeding the above listed lower value. The MeSO2(.) radical added to oxygen with a rate constant of 1.1 x 10(9) M(-1) s(-1). Re-dissociation of O2 from MeSO2OO(.) occurred only very slowly, if at all, that is, with k < 10(5) s(-1). MeSO2(.) radicals can act as the catalyst for the cis-trans isomerization of several Z- and E-mono-unsaturated fatty acid methyl esters in homogeneous solution. The effectiveness of the isomerization processes has been addressed, and in the presence of oxygen the isomerization is completely suppressed.     

Substituent and solvent effects on the beta-heterolysis reaction of beta-hydroxy arylethyl radicals

Time-resolved conversion of a series of beta-hydroxy arylethyl radicals with electron-donating and -withdrawing aromatic substituents to their corresponding styrene radical cation via heterolytic loss of the beta-hydroxy leaving group was examined with nanosecond laser flash photolysis. In all cases, the reaction was catalyzed by added perchloric acid. Radicals 2a-d reacted via a pre-equilibrium protonation mechanism in acidic 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP), and measuring rate constants for radical cation formation as a function of acid content allowed for the determination of absolute rate constants ranging from 3.6 x 10(6) to 3.8 x 10(7) s(-1) for the loss of water from the protonated beta-hydroxy arylethyl radicals 2a-d, as well as the acidity constants, pKa approximately 1.5 (in HFIP), for the protonated radicals. The 4-methoxy-substituted beta-hydroxy arylethyl radical 2e reacted by rate determining protonation in HFIP with a second-order rate constant of k(H+) = 7.8 x 10(8) M(-1) s(-1). However, in acetonitrile, 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol, and mixtures of these two solvents, 2e reacted by pre-equilibrium protonation, allowing for solvent effects on the rate constant for loss of water from the protonated radical 2e to be determined. With use of these data, substituent electronic effects on the kinetics of the beta-heterolysis reaction are discussed. Differences in the effect of solvent on the rate constant for loss of water from the protonated beta-hydroxy arylethyl radicals and other beta-substituted arylethyl radicals are also discussed.     

The pKa and pH dependence of the formation of nitroxide radicals from some drug substances with an aliphatic secondary amino group by oxidation with hydrogen peroxide. An Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) Study

The pKa and pH dependence of the formation of nitroxide radicals from the following drugs that contain an aliphatic secondary amino group, by oxidation with hydrogen peroxide, have been studied by ESR spectroscopy: Ephedrine, (1R,2S)-1-phenyl-2-methyl-aminopropanol, timolol, (S)-1-(tert-butyl-amino)-3-[(4-morpholino-1,2,3-thiadiazol-3-yl)ox y]-2- propanol, metoprolol, 1-[4-(2-methoxyethyl)phenoxy]-3-[(1-methylethyl)amino]-2-propanol and terodiline, N-tert-butyl-3,3-diphenyl-1-methylpropylamine. Radicals were formed from the non-ionized base only. Therefore, the pKa value of the amine and the pH of the reaction mixture is of crucial importance for the yield of nitroxide radical. At 37 degrees C the pKa values of 1-3 are about 9.2, and of 4 about 9.6, which means that 1.5% of 1-3, and 0.6% of 4, are present in the reactive base form at the physiological pH of 7.4. Horse-radish peroxidase was found both to enhance radical production and to decrease the life-time of the radicals formed in the reaction with hydrogen peroxide.     

Metallonitrosyl fragment as electron acceptor: intramolecular charge transfer, long range electronic coupling, and electrophilic reactivity in the trans-[NCRu(py)(4)(CN)Ru(py)(4)NO](3+) ion

The new complex trans-[NCRu(py)(4)(CN)Ru(py)(4)NO](PF(6))(3) (I) was synthesized. In acetonitrile solution, I shows an intense visible band (555 nm, epsilon = 5800 M(-1) cm(-1)) and other absorptions below 350 nm, associated with d(pi) --> pi(py) and pi(py) --> pi(py) transitions. The visible band is presently assigned as a donor-acceptor charge transfer (DACT) transition from the remote Ru(II) to the delocalized [Ru(II)-NO(+)] moiety. Photoinduced release of NO is observed upon irradiation at the DACT band. Application of the Hush model reveals strong electronic coupling, with H(DA) = approximately 2000 cm(-1). The difference between the optical absorption energy and redox potentials for the donor and acceptor sites (Ru(III,II), 1.40 V, and NO(+)/NO, 0.50 V, vs Ag/AgCl, 3 M KCl, respectively) (hnu - DeltaE(red)) is 1.33 eV, a large value which probably relates to the significant changes in distances and angles for the Ru-N-O moiety upon reduction. UV-vis absorptions, IR frequencies, and redox potentials are solvent-dependent. Controlled potential reduction (of NO(+)) and oxidation (of Ru(II) associated with the dicyano-chromophore) of I afford stable species, [NCRu(II)(py)(4)(CN)Ru(py)(4)NO](2+) (I(red)) and [NCRu(III)(py)(4)(CN)Ru(py)(4)NO](4+) (I(ox)), respectively, which are characterized by UV-vis and IR spectroscopies. I(red) shows an EPR spectrum characteristic of [Ru(II)-NO(*)] complexes. Compound I is electrophilically reactive in aqueous solution above pH 5: values of the equilibrium constant for the reaction [NCRu(py)(4)(CN)Ru(py)(4)NO](3+)+ 2 OH(-) <--> [NCRu(py)(4)(CN)Ru(py)(4)NO(2)](+) + H(2)O, K = 3.2 +/- 1.4 x 10(15) M(-2), and of the rate constant for the nucleophilic addition of OH(-), k = 9.2 +/- 0.2 x 10(3) M(-1) s(-1)(25 degrees C, I = 1 M), are obtained, with DeltaH = 90.7 +/- 3.8 kJ mol(-1) and DeltaS = 135 +/- 13 J K(-1) mol(-1). The oxidized complex, I(ox), shows an enhanced electrophilic reactivity toward OH(-). This addition reaction is followed by irreversible processes, which most probably lead to disproportionation of bound nitrite and other products.     

Rate constants for the reactions of a series of alkylperoxy radicals with NO

The rate constants for the gas-phase reactions of isopropyl- and tert-butylperoxy radicals with nitric oxide (NO) have been studied at 298 +/- 2 K and a total pressure of 3-4 Torr (He buffer) using a laser flash photolysis technique coupled with a time-resolved negative-ionization mass spectrometry. The alkyl peroxy radicals were generated by the reaction of alkyl radicals with excess O(2), where alkyl radicals were prepared by laser photolysis of several precursor molecules. The rate constants were determined to be k(i-C(3)H(7)O(2) + NO) = (8.0 +/- 1.5) x 10(-12) and k(t-C(4)H(9)O(2) + NO) = (8.6 +/- 1.4) x 10(-12) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1). The results in combination with our previous studies are discussed in terms of the systematic reactivity of alkyl peroxy radicals toward NO.     

Free-radical-induced chain breakage and depolymerization of poly(methacrylic acid): equilibrium polymerization in aqueous solution at room temperature

Hydroxyl radicals, generated by ionizing radiation in N2O saturated aqueous solutions, abstract H atoms from poly(methacrylic acid) at the methyl and methylene groups, and radicals 1 and 2 are formed, respectively. The reactions of the poly(methacrylic acid) radicals were investigated by pulse radiolysis (using optical and conductometric detection), EPR, product analysis, and kinetic simulations. The conductometric detection allowed us to measure the rate of chain scission and monomer release. Under conditions in which the polymer is largely deprotonated, the primary radical 1 abstracts a hydrogen (k= 3.5 x 10(2)s(-1)) from the methylene group, and this yields the more stable secondary radical 2. This radical undergoes chain scission by beta-fragmentation (k= 1.8 s(-1)), and the terminal (end-of-chain) radical 3 is formed. The polymer radicals terminate only slowly (2k= 80 dm3mol(-1)s(-1)). This allows effective depolymerization (depropagation) to take place (k=0.1 s(-1)). The yield of monomer release is higher than the original radical yield by up to two orders of magnitude. Once monomer is formed, it reacts with 3 (propagation, k= 15 dm3mol(-1)s(-1)), and a situation close to an equilibrium radical polymerization is approached. From these data, the equilibrium monomer concentration is calculated at 6.7 x 10(-3) mol dm(-3) at room temperature. The standard entropy of propagation is estimated at -185 to -150 J mol(-1)K(-1). Because the monomer reaches concentrations in the millimolar range, the *OH radicals increasingly react with monomers (results in oligomerization) rather than with the polymer. This effect is reflected by, for example, a lowering of chain-scission yields upon prolonged irradiation. In acid solutions, the decay of the polymer radicals becomes much faster (estimated at about 10(7)dm3mol(-1)s(-1) at pH3.5), and monomer release is no longer observed.     

One-electron reduction of aqueous nitric oxide: a mechanistic revision

The pulse radiolysis of aqueous NO has been reinvestigated, the variances with the prior studies are discussed, and a mechanistic revision is suggested. Both the hydrated electron and the hydrogen atom reduce NO to yield the ground-state triplet (3)NO(-) and singlet (1)HNO, respectively, which further react with NO to produce the N(2)O(2)(-) radical, albeit with the very different specific rates, k((3)NO(-) + NO) = (3.0 +/- 0.8) x 10(9) and k((1)HNO + NO) = (5.8 +/- 0.2) x 10(6) M(-)(1) s(-)(1). These reactions occur much more rapidly than the spin-forbidden acid-base equilibration of (3)NO(-) and (1)HNO under all experimentally accessible conditions. As a result, (3)NO(-) and (1)HNO give rise to two reaction pathways that are well separated in time but lead to the same intermediates and products. The N(2)O(2)(-) radical extremely rapidly acquires another NO, k(N(2)O(2)(-) + NO) = (5.4 +/- 1.4) x 10(9) M(-)(1) s(-)(1), producing the closed-shell N(3)O(3)(-) anion, which unimolecularly decays to the final N(2)O + NO(2)(-) products with a rate constant of approximately 300 s(-)(1). Contrary to the previous belief, N(2)O(2)(-) is stable with respect to NO elimination, and so is N(3)O(3)(-). The optical spectra of all intermediates have also been reevaluated. The only intermediate whose spectrum can be cleanly observed in the pulse radiolysis experiments is the N(3)O(3)(-) anion (lambda(max) = 380 nm, epsilon(max) = 3.76 x 10(3) M(-)(1) cm(-)(1)). The spectra previously assigned to the NO(-) anion and to the N(2)O(2)(-) radical are due, in fact, to a mixture of species (mainly N(2)O(2)(-) and N(3)O(3)(-)) and to the N(3)O(3)(-) anion, respectively. Spectral and kinetic evidence suggests that the same reactions occur when (3)NO(-) and (1)HNO are generated by photolysis of the monoprotonated anion of Angeli's salt, HN(2)O(3)(-), in NO-containing solutions.