EPR study of free radicals in bread

The features of the recorded EPR spectra of paramagnetic species formed in bread and rusk are reported. The appearance of free radicals in them is only connected with their thermal treatment since the starting materials (flour and grains) exhibit very weak EPR signal. The obtained EPR spectra are complex and indicate that: (i) the relative number of paramagnetic species depends on the temperature and treating time of the raw product; (ii) the g-values are strongly temperature dependent with a tendency to coincide at t > or = 220 degrees C. Because of the relatively low (150-220 degrees C) temperature of thermal treatment, the studied free radicals can be assumed to appear in the course of the browning (Maillard) reaction and not to the carbonization of the material.     

EPR study of persistent free radicals in cross-linked EPDM rubbers

Cross-linking of ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) rubbers containing different amounts of dicyclopentadiene (DCPD), 5-ethylidene-2-norbornene (ENB) and 5-vinyl-2-norbornene (VNB) dienes was examined by EPR spectroscopy. The cross-linking was initiated by thermal decomposition of dicumyl peroxide at 440 K. The concentration of free radicals increased towards the end of the cross-linking process before reaching a maximum and decaying to zero. This is explained by the spatial confinement of the radicals in the cross-linked rubber, which leads to increased life time and, hence, higher radical concentration at a time when most peroxide has decomposed. The EPR spectra showed the presence of two components: a well-resolved spectrum overlapping a broad line. Both components are assigned to allyl radicals possessing different mobility. The more mobile component is assigned to allyl radicals along the EPDM chains, whereas the immobilised allyl radicals are formed in the cross-links. The stability of the allyl radicals decreases in the order DCPD > ENB > VNB. EPDMs containing two dienes show more persistent radicals than their single-diene counterparts. The most persistent radicals are observed for highly cross-linked (e.g., 28% ENB) or mixed diene EPDMs (e.g., 2.2% DCPD-4.4% ENB); the EPR spectra of free radicals in these systems can be observed for several hours.     

EPR and saturation transfer EPR spectra at high microwave field intensities

The eight unique EPR signals at the first and second harmonies of the Zeeman modulation are sensitive to the very slow rotational diffusion of spin labeled biomolecules when these signals are recorded under conditions of microwave saturation and finite Zeeman modulation frequencies and amplitudes. Such saturation transfer sensitive spectra have been employed to study contractile proteins, hemoproteins, enzymes, etc. When these species or their supramolecular complexes are characterized by correlation times in the range 10^?8 to 10^?3 s. Published computer simulation reproduce quite well spectra at the longer correlation times and the general sensitivity of spectra to changing rotational correlation time; however, agreement between experimental and calculated spectral shapes is poor for rotational correlation time on the order of 10^?7 s and the dependence of experimental spectra upon microwave field intensity is not reproduced. In the present communication we show that the previously reported discrepancy between experimental and calculated spectra is due to the neglect of higher order cou magnetic interactions modulated by the molecular motion and involving the spin-microwave field interaction. When these “pseudodiagonal” terms of the spin density equation are explicitly included, experimental spectral lineshapes, spectral line positions, and the ratios of amplitudes of the various signal components are quantitatively reproduced. Plots of the ratios of the heights of the high and low field spectral extrema suggest a procedure for calibrating microwave field intensities as these ratios are found experimentally and theoretically to be nearly a linear function of microwave field intensity for intensities in the range 0.15 to 0.5 G. The separation of low and high field extrema was observed to increase with increasing microwave field intensity, suggesting the need to carefully consider saturation effects when determining rotational correlation times from this separation.     

EPR study of free radicals in a main chain thermotropic polymer

Free radicals were generated in a rigid rod-like copolymer via mechanical route and by gamma radiation. The (EPR) method was used for studying free radicals formed at 123 K. The spectra of free radicals observed and the influence of molecular motions on the transport of radical centers in the fracture surface layer are discussed.     

EPR spectra of free radicals of β-phosphorylated oximes

Conclusions New phosphorus-containing iminoxyls in which the phosphorus atom is to the radical center were generated either electrochemically or photochemically, and the distribution of the spin density in them was established.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 5, pp. 1187–1190, May, 1978.     

Study of photoinduced N-hydroxy-arylnitroxide radicals (ArNO*OH) by time-resolved EPR

The photoreduction of aromatic nitro compounds by alcohols is a well-known reaction; however, the first stages of its mechanism remain controversial. This study aims at characterizing the "primary" radicalar transients involved in this reaction by EPR spectroscopy. Laser flash photolysis (lambda = 266 nm) of nitrobenzene, 5-nitrouracil, p-nitroacetophenone, o-propylnitrobenzene, and 2-nitroresorcinol in ethylene glycol was followed by time-resolved EPR spectroscopy. In all reported TR-EPR spectra, except those obtained from the photolysis of 2-nitroresorcinol, the key intermediate N-hydroxy-arylnitroxide radicals (ArNO*OH, 1-4) could be identified unambiguously. In 2-nitroresorcinol, the radical anion (ArNO*O(-), 5) and a sigma iminoxy radical (6) were observed, and a third radical (7) remains unidentified. These observations indicate that two radicalar mechanisms (by H* transfer and by electron transfer) are competing in the photoreduction mechanism. The attribution of the EPR spectra was helped by DFT calculations of the hyperfine coupling constants (hcc's).     

EPR of free radicals formed from 3-hydroxyesculetin and related derivatives

EPR spectroscopy of 3-hydroxyesculetin (1, solid and in solution) and of the radicals formed during the aerobic oxidation of alkaline solutions of 1 and related compounds was investigated. 1 in the solid state was studied by pulsed EPR experiments and showed a radical character. The aerobic oxidation of alkaline solutions of 1 was also followed by EPR spectroscopy. A ring contraction occurred leading to a 5,6-dihydroxybenzofuran-2-carboxylate radical. The autoxidation of an alkaline solution of (Z)-3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-2-hydroxypropenoic acid allowed the observation of a spectrum attributable to 5,6-dihydroxybenzofuran-3-one-2-carboxylate radical. The formation mechanisms of these radicals are discussed.     

A long-lived luminescence and EPR bimodal lanthanide-based probe for free radicals

We developed a novel spin-labeled terbium complex Tb(3+)/cs124-DTPA-TEMPO (1) by covalently labeling a nitroxide radical on the terbium complex for monitoring free radicals of various areas. This lanthanide complex probe shows a high EPR signal which resulted from the nitroxide radical moiety, and is weakly luminescent which resulted from the intramolecular quenching effect of the nitroxide radical on sensitised terbium luminescence. The intensity of both the EPR and luminescence can be modulated by eliminating the paramagnetism of the nitroxide radical through recognition of a carbon-centered radical analyte and thus gives a quantification of the analyte. We have preliminarily applied this probe in the luminescent detection of model carbon-centered radicals and hydroxyl radicals (·OH). This probe is water-soluble and contains lanthanide-luminescence properties, favorable for the time-resolved luminescence technique. The investigation of the intramolecular quenching process has showed that the labeled nitroxide radical quenches multiple excited states of the terbium complex, resulting in highly efficient quenching of terbium luminescence. This probe is the first example of intramolecular modulation of lanthanide luminescence by a nitroxide radical.     

Anion radicals of [60]fullerenes. An EPR study

Photochemically induced electron transfer in homogeneous systems (using triethylamine donor) and heterogeneous systems (using photoexcited TiO₂ suspension) was applied in in situ reduction of [60]fullerene. The anion radicals generated were characterized by means of EPR and VIS/near-IR spectroscopy. Narrow EPR lines were found. Radical A with g_A=2.0000 and peak-to-peak width, pp_A=0.09mT was observed as the primary product; followed by its consecutive product B with g_B=2.0006, pp_B=0.04mT, and in some cases product C with g_C=2.0009 and pp_c<0.1 mT. Radical A was assigned to [60]fullerene mono-anion, also characterized by a near-IR band at 1077 nm. B is presumably di-anion or a dimeric form of mono-anion. Identical results were also obtained using cathodic in situ reduction. Applying these generation techniques to [60]fullerene derivatives produced narrow EPR lines analogous to those described for pristine [60]fullerene. This was the case not only in organic solvents, but also in aqueous solutions. The results obtained present a contrast with the original ex situ EPR investigations describing [60]fullerene mono-anion with wide lines. According to the results presented here, the narrow and wide EPR lines do not represent contradictory phenomena, but are an integral part of the relatively complicated manifestations of various fullerene states and both will have to be seriously considered in the future.     

Magnetic interaction of pyridyl-substituted thioaminyl stable free radicals

N-(2-Pyridylthio)-2,6-diaryl-4-R-phenylaminyls (R = Ph, 4-ClC(6)H(4), MeCO, CN, EtOCO) and N-(4-pyridylthio)-2,6-diaryl-4-R-phenylaminyls (R = Ph, 4-ClC(6)H(4), EtOCO) were prepared and isolated as radical crystals. Their ESR spectra were measured, and the NS and pyridyl nitrogen and anilino meta and pyridyl ortho and para proton hyperfine coupling constants were determined. The spin-density calculations based on the density functional theory were performed by the UBecke 3LYP hybrid method using the STO 6-31G basis set. X-ray crystallographic analyses were performed for three radicals, and their structures were discussed in detail. The magnetic susceptibility measurements were carried out for the nine kinds of isolated radicals with a SQUID magnetometer. One radical showed ferromagnetic coupling (2J/k(B) = 44 K), and the others showed antiferromagnetic behavior. The magnetic interactions observed are explained on the basis of the crystal structures.     

EPR study of the transformations of fluoroalkenyl radicals

Conclusions Fluorinated alkenyl radicals containing a double bond at position 4 or 5 relative to the radical site are converted into relatively stable radicals, apparently due to their cyclization.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 3, pp. 706–708, March, 1989.We express our gratitude to A. L. Blyumenfel'd for compiling a program for calculation of the EPR spectra.     

EPR and ENDOR study of thermally produced triphenylmethyl radicals

The ENDOR spectrum of the triphenylmethyl radical formed by heat treatment of triphenylmethane has been measured in solution at 131°C. The derived hyperfine coupling constants of 2.770, 2.556 and 1.138 G were used to simulate the extremely well resolved EPR spectrum. These coupling constants are in good agreement with spin densities determined for the planar radical by the McLachlan method.     

Spatial and spectral-spatial EPR imaging of free radicals and oxygen in the heart

It has been hypothesized that free radical metabolism and oxygenation in living organs, such as the heart, may vary over particular anatomic locations within these tissues. When there is a lack of tissue perfusion, as occurs during myocardial ischemia or infarction, radical metabolism and oxygenation are greatly changed, however, it was not previously possible to spatially map these alterations within the heart. Therefore, we developed EPR imaging instrumentation to enable three-dimensional spatial as well as spectral-spatial EPR imaging of 2, 3 , or 4 dimensions. Utilizing this instrumentation, at L-band, high quality images of the distribution of nitroxide free radical labels and suspensions of oxygen sensitive chars have been performed on lossy samples of up to 25 mm in size. In the isolated rat heart, imaging experiments were performed to determine the kinetics of radical clearance at different locations within the heart during myocardial ischemia. This kinetic data showed the existence of regional and transmural differences in myocardial radical clearance. In terms of image quality and resolution, we observed with nitroxides that resolutions as high as 1 mm could be obtained, enabling visualization of the of the overall shape of the heart and location of the right and left ventricles. With char suspensions resolutions as high as 0.1 mm were possible, enabling visualization of the ventricles, aortic root, and proximal coronary arteries. Overall our results demonstrate that spatial and spectral-spatial EPR imaging are powerful techniques which enable the visualization of localized differences in free radical metabolism and oxygenation within the heart.     

Influence of ultrasonic, microwave, and thermal effects on photoinduced charge transfer in poly(3-hexylthiophene)-Methanofullerene composites: EPR study

Radical pairs, polarons, and anion radicals of fullerenes that are induced in bulk heterojunctions of two composites, poly(3-hexylthiophene) with 6,6-phenyl-C₆₁-butanoic acid methyl ester and with 6,6-phenyl-C₆₂-butanoic acid bis(methyl ester), by photons with an energy of 1.98–2.73 eV at 77 K are studied via the method of photoinduced electron paramagnetic resonance. It is found that a part of the polarons and anion radicals of fullerenes are entrapped by energy traps of the polymer matrix, the quantity and depth of which are determined by ordering in the composites and the energy of exciting photons. A comparative study of the influence of composite treatment with ultrasonic, microwave, and thermal annealing on the formation and main resonance parameters of spin charge carriers in these bulk heterojunctions demonstrates a sharp gain in the number of charge carriers during illumination of the polymer-methanofullerene system, and the maximum effect is observed for photons with energies of 1.98 and 2.1 eV. This treatment procedure leads to the development of crystalline domains in the polymer matrix and increases the efficiency of light-energy conversion.