An ESR protocol based on relaxation phenomena of irradiated Japanese pepper

We found various free radicals in a commercially available pepper in Japan before and after irradiation using electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy. The typical ESR spectrum of the pepper consists of a sextet centered at g = 2.0, a singlet at the same g-value and a singlet at g = 4.0. Upon gamma ray irradiation, a new pair of signals appeared in the pepper. The progressive saturation behavior (PSB) at various microwave power levels indicated quite different relaxation behaviors of those radicals. Namely, the peak intensity of the organic free radical component decreases in a monotonic fashion, whereas the Mn2+ and Fe3+ ESR signals substantially keep constant. This reflects the evidence of three independent radicals in the pepper before irradiation. The PSB of the pair peaks as induced by irradiation possessed quite different PSB from that of the free radical located at g = 2.0. We proposed a new protocol for the ESR detection of irradiated foods by the PSB method at different microwave power levels. This would call for a major modification of the CEN protocol in European Union.     

Electron spin resonance studies of polycarbonate irradiated by γ-rays and ultraviolet light

Paramagnetic species produced in polycarbonate (PC) by γ- or ultraviolet irradiation were investigated by ESR. In γ-irradiation, scissions of carbonate groups in the main chain occur. ESR spectra (g = 2.003₄) composed of a sharp singlet, some broad singlets, and a small signal with hyperfine structure are obtained, and they are assigned to trapped electrons, positive radical ions, phenoxy-type free radicals, phenyl radicals, and ? O? C₆H₄? C(CH₃)₂ radicals. The G value for total yields of paramagnetic species at 77°K is 1.8. The percentage of CO and CO₂, the dominant gases evolved, is 65.4 and 33.8%, respectively. In ultraviolet irradiation, energy is absorbed selectively at the surface region. The surface region becomes insoluble in methylene chloride because of crosslinking of phenyl groups. The ESR spectrum obtained at 77°K is a broad singlet and assigned to phenoxy-type free radicals, phenyl radicals, and polyenyl-type free radicals. Some differences in effects of γ- and ultraviolet irradiation of PC are discussed.     

An electron spin resonance study of gamma-ray irradiated ginseng

Using electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy, we revealed the presence of four radical species in gamma-ray irradiated ginseng (Agaliaceae). Before irradiation, the representative ESR spectrum of ginseng is composed of a sextet centered at g = 2.0, a sharp singlet at the same g-value, and a singlet at about g = 4.0. The first one is attributable to a hyperfine (hf) signal of Mn2+ ion (hf constant: 7.4 mT). The second one is due to an organic free radical. The third one is originated from Fe3+. Upon gamma-ray irradiation, a new ESR (the fourth) signal was detectable in the vicinity of g = 2.0 region. The progressive saturation behaviors of the ESR signals at various microwave power levels were indicative of different relaxation time for those radicals. The anisotropic ESR spectra were detected by the angular rotation of the sample tube. This is due to the existence of anisotropic microcrystalline in the ginseng powder sample.     

Identification of irradiated sage tea (Salvia officinalis L.) by ESR spectroscopy

The use of electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy to accurately distinguish irradiated from unirradiated sage tea was examined. Before irradiation, sage tea samples exhibit one asymmetric singlet ESR signal centered at g=2.0037. Besides this central signal, two weak satellite signals situated about 3 mT left and right to it in radiation-induced spectra. Irradiation with increasing doses caused a significant increase in radiation-induced ESR signal intensity at g=2.0265 (the left satellite signal) and this increase was found to be explained by a polynomial varying function. The stability of that radiation-induced ESR signal at room temperature was studied over a storage period of 9 months. Also, the kinetic of signal at g=2.0265 was studied in detail over a temperature range 313–353 K by annealing samples at different temperatures for various times.     

An electron spin resonance study of dry vegetables before and after irradiation

The ESR signals were successfully observed for the first time in dry vegetables (DVs) that are prominently used in oriental cuisines. We analyzed ESR signals of DV before and after irradiation. Before irradiation, the ESR signal of DV consisted of the three components: a singlet at g=2.0030, the sextet signals from Mn(2+) ion, and a singlet from Fe(3+). The first originated from a carbon centered organic free radical. The second is attributable to the sextet signal with hyperfine interactions of Mn(2+) ion centered at g=2.0020. The third is a singlet at g=4.0030 due to Fe(3+). After the gamma-ray irradiation, a new pair of signals, or twin peaks, appeared in the ESR spectrum of DV. The intensity of the organic free radical at g=2.0030 of the irradiated DV increased lineally with radiation doses. Progressive saturation behavior of the DV indicates a unique saturation and the signals obeyed various relaxation processes.     

ESR studies on poly(vinyl chloride) irradiated at medium and high doses

Room temperature gamma irradiation at medium (1-100 kGy) or high (0.9-25 MGy) doses induces different radicals into pure or industrial poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC); the various ESR signals differ by their shapes and/or values of their g-factors and/or peak-to-peak widths but do not give precise information on the chemical structures of the different radicals as the spectra are only poorly resolved. However, looking at the ESR parameters of the different signals and their evolution during natural ageing of the samples, allows us to make correlations between the radio-induced lines in industrial PVC and the ones induced in pure PVC or in PVC additives.     

EPR study of free radicals in non- and gamma-irradiated nutritive supplements containing anthocyanins concentrate from lyophilized red wine

Nutritive supplements Enoviton, Enoviton C and Enoviton CE containing standardized anthocyanins from lyophilized red wine, vitamins (some of them) and excipients were investigated by EPR spectrometry before and after gamma-irradiation. Non-irradiated samples exhibit one singlet line with g=2.0039±0.0002, most probably due to free radicals from anthocyanins. After irradiation with 10 kGy gamma-rays, tablets of Еnoviton, Еnoviton С and Еnoviton СЕ, all exhibit complex EPR signals centered at a g-value of g=2.0034. The EPR spectrum of irradiated Enoviton is different from that of Еnoviton С or Еnoviton СЕ due to the overlap of the spectra of microcrystalline cellulose and the background singlet spectrum present in all tablets with the EPR resonance due to irradiated ascorbic acid (in Еnoviton С and Еnoviton СЕ). Gamma-induced free radicals exhibit long time stability—for a six months period the intensity of central peak decrease with 30–40%.     

ESR STUDY OF FREE RADICALS IN IRRADIATED POLYAMIDE-1010

Polyamide-1010 samples were irradiated in vacuum at room temperature by Cobalt-60 γ-rays. The free radicals formed in irradiation were studied by means of electron spin resonance (ESR)techniques.The ESRspectra consisted of a quartet and a superimposed singlet which were attributed to radical -CO-NH-CH-CH_2 and -CH_2-C=O, respectively. The effects of temperature and crystaUinity on the radicals were discussed and the mechanism for the production and decay of the radicals was also proposed.     

The effects of temperature on ESR spectrum of gamma-irradiated ammonium tartrate

Unirradiated ammonium tartrate (AT) samples do not exhibit any ESR signal. However, irradiation produces an unresolved singlet at g=2.0034±0.0006 with two shoulders at g₁=2.0093±0.0006 and g₂=2.0048±0.0006. The dose–response curve was found to increase linearly with the applied radiation doses in the range of 0.1–2.0 kGy and the slope of this curve was increased as the modulation amplitude increased. The activation energy value E_a=69.0±1.2 kJ/mol was calculated from Arrhenius plot for the radical species responsible from ESR spectrum of irradiated AT.     

Photo-induced cellulose radicals capable of initiating graft copolymerization

The decay behavior of cellulose radicals produced by photo-irradiation at room temperature and the characteristics of photo-irradiated cellulose samples to initiate graft copolymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) were investigated. ESR spectra of such untreated, swollen, oximated, and ferric ion-sensitized samples irradiated at room temperature were constructed mainly of a single absorption line with a line width of 20 to 22 gauss and a g value of 2.003, and it is surely conceivable that the radicals showing a singlet spectrum should agree with those of alkoxy end produced at either the C₁ or C₄ position of the glucose unit by the scission of glucosidic bonds. The decay of radicals was accelerated by contact of various solvents with the samples, the activity decreasing in the order, water ≈ methanol ? acetone > dioxane. On the other hand, the decay of radicals by vinyl monomers became smaller in the order, methacrylic acid > MMA ≈ styrene. Graft copolymerization of MMA by a photo-irradiated sample was effectively initiated with the use of a certain amount of water or methanol, but not with acetone and dioxane. As no initiation can occur with the unirradiated sample, it is concluded that the initiation of graft copolymerization on the photo-irradiated sample is attributable to cellulose radicals showing a singlet spectrum which are formed in photo-irradiation at room temperature.     

Photo-induced radical formation in cellulose

The characteristics of cellulose radicals produced by photo-irradiation were studied from their ESR spectra. All spectra of the irradiated samples contained a singlet spectrum with a line width of 28 gauss. Spectra consisting mainly of a single absorption line were observed in the initial stage of irradiation. With the elapse of irradiation time, two absorption lines with a line width of 8 gauss were added to the original singlet spectrum, leading to the three absorption lines widths of 8, 28, and 8 gauss, respectively, of which the middle line with a line width of 28 gauss showed the maximum intensity. This three-line spectrum was easily produced when hydrogen peroxide or metallic ions such as Fe³⁺, Ag⁺, Fe²⁺, and Ce⁴⁺ were used as sensitizers. The observed ESR spectra consisted of a singlet with a line width of 28 gauss and a triplet with a line width of 8 gauss and a splitting factor of 28 gauss. The triplet component was more unstable toward warming, as compared with the singlet component. Based on the experimental results, it was suggested that cellulose radicals due to the scissions of cellulose chains corresponding to the ESR spectra with a single line could be the most important factor for the initiation of graft copolymerization.     

Electron spin resonance study of poly-3,3-bis(chloromethyl) oxetane irradiated with electron beams and ultraviolet light

Poly-3,3-bis(chloromethyl)oxetane (poly-BCMO) was irradiated at ?196°C with electron beams and ultraviolet light, and observed ESR spectra were compared. A three-line spectrum (coupling constant of about 21 gauss) and a two-line spectrum (coupling constant of about 18 gauss) were observed after irradiation with electron beams in vacuo. They were attributed to free radicals and respectively. On the other hand, a three-line spectrum (coupling constant of about 20 gauss) and an asymmetric singlet spectrum were observed after ultraviolet irradiation in vacuum. They were assigned to free radicals and ? CH₂? O·, respectively. Mechanisms of radical formation were discussed in each case. When poly-BCMO was irradiated with electron beams at ?196°C in the presence of air, peroxy radicals were produced after subsequent treatment at ?78°C. The reaction between alkyl radicals and oxygen molecules was found to be diffusion-controlled.     

Studying the Fundamentals of Radical Polymerization Using ESR in Combination with Controlled Radical Polymerization Methods

Electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy can contribute to understanding both the kinetics and mechanism of radical polymerizations. A series of oligo/poly(meth)acrylates were prepared by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and purified to provide well defined radical precursors. Model radicals, with given chain lengths, were generated by reaction of the terminal halogens with an organotin compound and the radicals were observed by ESR spectroscopy. This combination of ESR with ATRPs ability to prepare well defined radical precursors provided significant new information on the properties of radicals in radical polymerizations. ESR spectra of the model radicals generated from tert-butyl methacrylate precursors, with various chain lengths, showed clear chain length dependent changes and a possibility of differentiating between the chain lengths of observed propagating radicals by ESR. The ESR spectrum of each dimeric, trimeric, tetrameric, and pentameric tert-butyl acrylate model radicals, observed at various temperatures, provided clear experimental evidence of a 1,5-hydrogen shift.     

ESR study of low-temperature radiolysis and photolysis of substitutedN′-furfurylidenebenzhydrazides

Low-temperature (77 K) γ- and UV irradiation of substitutedN′-furfurylidenebenzhydrazides produces paramagnetic particles in radiation-chemical yields of (0.05–0.5)/100 eV and quantum yields of 4·10⁻⁵–10⁻³, respectively. ESR study showed that hydrazyl radicals and HC·O and N·O₂ are the main products of radiolysis and photolysis, and the latter decay upon heating of the sample to 190 K, whereas the hydrazyl radicals survive up to 423 K. Further heating results in thermodestruction of the hydrazides, and the ESR spectrum exhibits only a singlet with splitting at 1 mT, which is characteristic of polyconjugated compounds. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 11, pp. 2078–2082, November, 1999.     

Electron spin resonance study of polymerization of butadiene with tris(acetylacetonato)titanium and triethylaluminum

ESR spectra of homogeneous catalyst derived from tris(acetylacetonato)titanium(III) and triethylaluminum were observed at several temperatures from ?78°C, to +25°C, at molar ratios of aluminum to titanium of 1–108. At ?78°C, this catalyst yields a violet complex which shows an ESR signal with a g value of 1.959 and is associated with the first intermediate. At ?40°C to ?30°C, this signal decreases, and two signals with g values of 1.947 and 1.960 are observed. The latter two signals diminish at ?5°C to +10°C, while two kinds of new signals with g values of 1.965 and 1.969 appear overlapping each other. The structures of the species corresponding to these five signals are discussed on the basis of the ESR spectra, the intensity change, and the unpaired spin distribution. A new signal with a g value of 1.978 is found in the presence of butadiene at 25°C at Al/Ti > 8 and is assigned to a growing end of polybutadiene with this catalyst. The polymer yield increases remarkedly at Al/Ti molar ratios greater than 10. The microstructure of the resulting polymer consists almost completely of 1,2 units. The structure of the growing end is proposed to be a titanium (III) species containing two 1-substituted allyl groups, by comparison with the structure ascribed to the growing end of polybutadiene with n-butyl titanate-triethylaluminum catalyst.     

Change with temperature of the ESR spectra of peroxy radicals trapped in irradiated polytetrafluoroethylene

The ESR spectra of peroxy radicals in irradiated powders and oriented samples of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTEE) have been measured with a K-band spectrometer, and the principal values and directions of the g tensor were determined both at room temperature and at 77°K. In contrast to the spectra of the usual peroxy radicals, those trapped in γ-irradiated PTFE exhibited an ESR spectrum apparently having a larger principal value for g⊥ than for g∥ when measured at room temperature, although the normal principal values were observed at 77°K. As for the directions of the principal axes, g∥ was directed along the chain axis at room temperature and was perpendicular to the chain axis at 77°K. From the temperature change of the g tensor and the line shapes in the oriented samples, it is shown that the observed temperature change of the spectra is due to rapid rotation at room temperature around the chain axis rather than around the C? O bond axis. Assuming this, the apparent principal values of the g tensor at room temperature were calculated from the g tensor obtained at 77°K. for the rigid state, and the results are in good agreement with observations at room temperature. A structure for the peroxy radicals is also proposed. In addition, the spectral line shape function for the uniaxially oriented samples has been derived.     

ESR spectra of irradiated polyacrylic acid

In view of the interest in acrylic acid co-polymerized with other polymers by radiation to promote enhanced crosslinking, a knowledge of the intermediate reaction products is highly desirable. ESR techniques have been used to study the nature and stability of the radicals formed. Acrylic acid was polymerized by exposure to gamma radiation; the nature of the radicals, their decay at various temperatures, and the effect of inhibitors were investigated.The ESR spectrum at room temperature is similar to that described by earlier workers; its dependence on temperature and impurities, as well as its decay, were investigated. From this work, there is reason to believe that the described triplet also contains a central singlet of ΔH_ms19 G; the addition of impurities to the acrylic acid causes the triplet to decay more rapidly, thus leaving the predominant singlet mentioned above. It was also found that the lines in the outer “wings” of the irradiated specimen disappear on heating; at the same time a new line, possibly a singlet of ΔH_ms131 G, either became more intense or more obvious. Some tentative explanations of this behaviour are advanced.     

Electron spin resonance study of ethylene–acrolein copolymer irradiated with ultraviolet light

When ethylene–acrolein copolymer was irradiated at ?196°C with ultraviolet light, a sharp singlet spectrum with a g value of about 2.001 was predominant. This spectrum is attributed to acyl radicals, which are produced by dissociation of a hydrogen atom from an aldehyde group. At the same time it is supposed that dissociation of formyl groups also took place to give alkyl radicals, CO, and H₂. The alkyl radicals reacted with CO molecules to give acyl radicals at ?78°C under vacuum. Peroxy radicals were produced when the sample irradiated at ?196°C in the presence of air was treated at ?78°C. The sample irradiated at ?196°C was warmed to near 0°C and an apparent singlet spectrum with a g value of about 2.004 was observed. This spectrum was tentatively assigned as due to free radicals of the type      

ESR detection of wheat flour before and after irradiation

We revealed free radicals in wheat flour before and after gamma-ray irradiation and their thermal behavior during heat-treatment using electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy. The ESR spectrum of wheat flour before irradiation consists of a sextet centered at g = 2.0 and a singlet signal at the same g-value position. The first one is attributable to a signal with hyperfine (hf) interactions of Mn2+ ion (hf constant: 7.4 mT). The second is originated from carbon-centered radical. Upon gamma-ray irradiation, however, a new signal with two triplet lines at the low and high field ends was detected in wheat flour on top of the Mn2+ sextet lines. We analyzed the triplet ESR lines as powder spectra (rhombic g-tensor symmetry) with nitrogen (14N) hyperfine interactions. This indicates that a new organic radical was induced in the conjugated protein portion of wheat flour by the gamma-ray irradiation. Intensity of the organic free radical at g = 2.0 detected in irradiated wheat flour increased monotonically by the thermal treatment. The analysis of the time-dependent evolution and decay process based on the theory of transient phenomena as well as the nonlinear least-squares numerical method provided a unique time constant for the radical evolution and decay in wheat flour during the heat-treatment.     

Radical products of thermal decomposition of polydiphenylenesulfophthalide

The investigation of the vacuum thermal decomposition of polydiphenylenesulfophthalide at 100–530 °C showed that there are at least four main types of paramagnetic species (PMSs). The ESR spectrum of type I PMSs (120–250 °C) has a signal (g = 2.0028; ΔH ～1 mT) with a poorly resolved hyperfine structure (HFS) and an even number of lines. The electronic spectrum of these particles shows an absorption band at ～410 nm. These particles were assigned to “low-temperature” triarylmethyl-type radicals (TAMTR), which are apparently generated from dioxothioxanthene defect structures of the polymer. Type II PMSs (250–360 °C) give a smooth symmetrical ESR singlet (g = 2.0028; ΔH ～1 mT) and two absorption bands in the electronic spectrum at ～410 nm (strong band) and ～710 nm (weak band). Based on the results of calculations of electronic spectra for a series of model structures at the TD-DFT B3LYP/6-311G(d,p) level of theory, these PMSs were assigned to “high-temperature” TAMTR, which have a fluorenyl structure and are formed through the opening of the sulfophthalide ring. The maximum concentration of TAMTR II (～10²⁰ spin g^?1) is achieved at 320 °C. At T > 320 °C, type II radicals decay and type III radicals are generated. The latter are condensed aromatic species presumably having a phenalene structure. In the temperature range of 350–450 °C, the ESR line width and shape remain mainly unchanged, which attests to the retention of the dominant structure of the radicals. An increase in the thermal decomposition temperature to ～450 °C or above leads to a decrease in the ESR line width and a change in its shape from the Gaussian to Lorentzian type. This fact is an evidence of type IV paramagnetic species corresponding to even higher condensed aromatic structures.