Radiation‐Induced Synthesis of Nanostructured Conjugated Polymers in Aqueous Solution: Fundamental Effect of Oxidizing Species

Synthesis of conjugated poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) polymers is achieved through the radiolysis of N₂O‐saturated aqueous solutions of 3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene by using two different oxidizing species: HO^. (hydroxyl) and N₃^. (azide) radicals. Both oxidative species lead to self‐assembled polymers that are evidenced in solution by cryotransmission electron microscopy and UV/Vis absorption spectroscopy and, after centrifugation and deposition, by scanning electron microscopy and attenuated total reflectance FTIR techniques. Whereas HO^. radicals lead to PEDOT‐OH globular nanostructures with hydrophilic properties, N₃^. radicals enable the formation of amphiphilic PEDOT‐N₃ fibrillar nanostructures. These results, which highlight the differences in the intermolecular interaction behaviors of the two kinds of PEDOT polymers, are discussed in terms of polymerization mechanisms.     

Red‐Light‐Induced Decomposition of an Organic Peroxy Radical: A New Source of the HO2 Radical

The gas‐phase decomposition of the α‐hydroxy methylperoxy radical has been theoretically examined, and the results provide insight into a new source of the hydroperoxy radical (HO₂) in the troposphere. Bimolecular peroxy decomposition is promoted by the red‐light or near‐IR radiation excitation. The calculations suggest for the first time, an important chemical role for the H₂O?HO₂ radical complex that exist in significant abundance in the troposphere. In particular, the reaction of organic peroxy radicals with the HO₂ radical and the H₂O?HO₂ radical complex represent an autocatalytic source of atmospheric HO₂. This reaction is a new example of red‐light‐initiated atmospheric chemistry that may help in understanding the discrepancy between the observed and measured levels of the HO_x at sunrise.     

Reactions of hydroxyl (HO•) and hydroperoxyl (HO) radicals generated chemically and photochemically with poly(ethylene oxide)

Poly(ethylene oxide) (poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl) is rapidly oxidized by hydroxyl (HO^?) and hydroperoxyl (HO) radicals generated by photolysis of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) or by the catalytic decomposition of H₂O₂ by metallic silver. This process is accompanied by a chain scission during which the molecular weight decreases and the polydispersity changes. As a result of this process, the crystalline structure of poly(ethylene oxide) disappears, and the polymer becomes completely amorphous. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Selective degradation of lignin and elimination of HO radicals in pulps by O<Subscript>3</Subscript> and UV laser flash irradiation

HO^. radical is an aggressive reagent to abstract hydrogen from diverse substitutes and lead them to degradation, however, in reaction of active oxygen species with lignins, complex phenolic polymers, in dispersed lignocellulose such as pulp for environment-benign delignification, HO^. radicals should be eliminated as more as possible to prevent cellulose from unfavorably concomitant degradation. A reaction system of O₃ is constructed under UV laser flash irradiation, and HO^. radicals are controlled efficiently by it. A new mechanism is proposed, for the first time, that O^. radicals generated from reaction of O₃ with UV laser flash irradiation might be the contributor to scavenge HO^. radicals.     

Thermochemical properties from G3MP2B3 calculations,Set‐2: Free radicals with special consideration of CH2CH?C•CH2, cyclo−•C5H5, •CH2OOH,HO?•CO,and HC(O)O•

After a set of 32 free radicals was presented (Int J Chem Kin 34, 550–560, 2002), an additional 60 free radicals (Set‐2) were studied and characterized by energy minimum structures, harmonic vibrational wave numbers ω_e, moments of inertia I_A, I_B, and I_C, heat capacities C^o_p(T), standard entropies S^o(T), thermal energy contents H^o(T) ? H^o(0), and standard enthalpies of formation Δ_fH^o(T) at the G3MP2B3 level of theory. Thermodynamic functions at T = 298.15 K are presented and compared with recent experimental values where these are available. The mean absolute deviation between calculated and experimental Δ_fH^o(298.15) values by the previous set of 32 radicals is 3.91 kJ mol^?1. For the sake of comparison, only 49 species out of the 60 radicals of Set‐2 are characterized by experimental enthalpies of formation, and the corresponding mean absolute deviation between calculated and experimental Δ_fH^o(298.15) values is 8.96 kJ mol^?1. This situation is cause for demand of more and also more accurate experimental values. In addition to the above properties, parent molecules of a large set of the respective radicals are calculated to obtain bond dissociation energies D^o(298.15). Radical stabilization owing to resonance is discussed using the complete sets of total atomic spin densities ρ as a support. In particular, a short review about recent developments of the first‐order Jahn–Teller radical c‐C₅H₅^? is presented. In addition, radicals with negative bond energies are described, such as ^?CH₂OOH where the reaction path to CH₂O + HO^? has been calculated, as well as radicals which have two different parent molecules, for example C?N? O^?. For the reaction HO^? + CO → H^? + CO₂, two reaction paths are characterized by a total of 14 stationary points where the intermediate radicals HO? ^?CO and HC(O)O^? are involved. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 36: 661–686, 2004     

Exploration of the potential energy surfaces, prediction of atmospheric concentrations, and prediction of vibrational spectra for the HO2...(H2O)n (n = 1-2) hydrogen bonded complexes

The hydroperoxy radical (HO2) plays a critical role in Earth's atmospheric chemistry as a component of many important reactions. The self-reaction of hydroperoxy radicals in the gas phase is strongly affected by the presence of water vapor. In this work, we explore the potential energy surfaces of hydroperoxy radicals hydrogen bonded to one or two water molecules, and predict atmospheric concentrations and vibrational spectra of these complexes. We predict that when the HO2 concentration is on the order of 10(8) molecules x cm(-3) at 298 K, that the number of HO2...H2O complexes is on the order of 10(7) molecules x cm(-3) and the number of HO2...(H2O)2 complexes is on the order of 10(6) molecules x cm(-3). Using the computed abundance of HO2...H2O, we predict that, at 298 K, the bimolecular rate constant for HO2...H2O + HO2 is about 10 times that for HO2 + HO2.     

Reactions of alkoxy and peroxy radicals formed upon the decomposition of hydroxyperoxide groups in the artemisinin derivatives

The enthalpies of intramolecular reactions of alkoxy and peroxy radicals formed from polyatomic artemisinin hydroperoxides and of their bimolecular reactions with C—H, S—H, and O—H bonds of biological substrates were calculated. The activation energies and rate constants of these reactions were calculated using the intersecting parabolas method. The decomposition of artemisinin hydroperoxides can initiate the cascade of intramolecular oxidation reactions involving radicals R·, RO·, HO·, HO₂·, and RO₂·. The main sequences of transformation of these radicals were established. The oxidative destruction of the artemisinin peroxy derivatives generates radicals RO₂·, HO·, and HO₂· in an amount of 4.5 radicals per peroxide derivative molecule on the average. The kinetic scheme of oxidative transformations of the hydroperoxide with four OOH groups and radicals formed from it was constructed using this radical as an example.     

Theoretical study of energies,structures, and vibrational spectra of the carbonic acid–hydroperoxy radical complexes

In this work, we present the results for the first time of our study on hydrogen‐bonded H₂CO₃–HO₂ complexes (structures 1, 2) by means of ab initio molecular orbital theory. These complexes are important intermediates in the reaction of the hydroperoxy radical and cabonic acid. We calculated that these structures are a six‐membered ring. We found that the binding energy of two complexes are 5.8 and 9.3 kcal/mol using the CCSD(T) method. We also calculated the vibrational and rotational frequencies for these complexes. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2005     

Role of interstitial voids in oxides on formation and stabilization of reactive radicals: interstitial HO2 radicals in F2-laser-irradiated amorphous SiO2

A procedure to produce stable hydroperoxy radicals (HO*2) in bulk amorphous SiO(2) (a-SiO(2)) has been developed. Oxygen molecules incorporated in the interstitial voids in a-SiO(2) react with mobile hydrogen atoms (H(0)) generated by the photolysis of silanol (SiOH) groups with F(2)-laser light (lambda = 157 nm, hnu = 7.9 eV), resulting in the efficient creation of interstitial HO*2. The high yield of HO*2 suggests that the collisions of the reaction intermediate with the void wall play an important role in dissipating the excess energy of the intermediate instead of the triple collision observed in the gas phase reaction. The resultant HO*2 is thermally stable up to 100 degrees C.     

Effects of adjacent groups of benzimidazole on antioxidation of polybenzimidazoles

The chemical oxidative stabilities of poly(2,2-(m-phenylene)-5,5-bibenzimidazole) (PBI-ph), poly(2,5-benzimidazole) (ABPBI), poly(2,2′-hexyl-5,5′-bibenzimidazole) (PBI-hex), and poly(2,2′-imidazole-5,5′-bibenzimidazole) (PBI-imi) are studied. By means of FTIR and ¹HNMR analysis, more information about the degradation process of PBI-ph is found as: CH₂ groups are left in the residual polymers; after the N-H bond and the trisubstituted benzene ring are oxidized by oxidative free radicals, the meta-phenylene is relatively stable. Through Fenton tests, the chemical oxidative stabilities of these PBIs are compared and results show that PBI-ph is the stablest material while PBI-imi is the unstablest one. Through FTIR analysis, the structure changes to those degraded PBIs are compared. The conjugated structure formed between meta-phenyl and benzimidazole can protect the main chain of PBI-ph from the attack of oxidative free radicals. Additionally, effects of acid on PBI-ph degradation rate are evaluated and the results show that phosphoric acid can slow down the chemical oxidative degradation.     

Hydrogen Peroxide Formation in Aqueous Solutions under UV-C Radiation

The formation of hydrogen peroxide in bidistilled water under the influence of UV-C radiation from a DKB-9 low-pressure mercury lamp has been studied. The yield of hydrogen peroxide was (1 ± 0.2) × 10^?7 mol (L s)^?1. The wavelengths of radiation under the influence of which the formation of H₂O₂ is possible have been estimated. It has been assumed that the intermediate product of the reaction is the HO₂^./O₂^.-radical. To identify it, oxidation–reduction reactions in aqueous solutions containing Fe²⁺, Fe³⁺, and I^? ions at pH values from 0.8 to 8.1 have been studied. The quantum yield of HO₂^. radicals in an acidic medium under the influence of radiation from the mercury lamp is 0.015 ± 0.005.     

Kinetic measurements of the gas phase HO2+CH3O2 cross-disproportionation reaction at 298 K

Flash photolysis kinetic absorption spectroscopy was used to investigate the gas phase reaction between hydroperoxy (HO₂) and methylperoxy (CH₃O₂) radicals at 298 K. Due to the large difference between the self-reactivities of the two radicals, first- or second-order kinetic conditions could not be maintained for either species. Thus, the rate constant for the cross reaction was determined from computer-modeled fits of the radical absorption decay curves, at wavelengths between 215 and 280 nm. This procedure yielded k = 2.9 × 10⁻¹² cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ independent of total pressure (using N₂) between 25 and 600 Torr, and of the partial pressure of water vapor (up to 11.6 Torr). There was also no effect of water vapor on the rate constant for the self-reaction of methylperoxy radicals.     

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.     

ESR studies of vinyl polymerization. II. Initial reactions of vinyl esters with redox systems in aqueous media

ESR measurements of transient radicals during redox polymerization of various vinyl esters in aqueous solutions have been made by using the rapid-mixing flow method. The initiation was by means of hydroxyl and amino radicals from the systems titanous chloride-hydrogen peroxide and titanous chloride-hydroxylamine, respectively. The well resolved hyperfine structures obtained at monomer concentrations of about 0.05 mole/1. are unambiguously assigned to the monomer radicals formed by addition of initiator radicals to monomers. At higher monomer concentrations, additional weak signals attributed to the growing polymer radicals were observed. The effect of reaction conditions on the signal intensity has been studied in particular for vinyl acetate. The coupling constants of monomer radicals from various vinyl esters (acetate, propionate, butyrate, crotonate, and isopropenyl acetate) were obtained and the spin densities calculated. From the ESR spectra, the monomer radicals have a conformation with the substituent R (R = HO or NH₂) of R? CH₂? CH(OCOR′) locked in a position above or below the radical plane. This is tentatively interpreted as due to formation of intramolecular hydrogen bonds to ring structures or complexes with titanium ions. In addition, hydrogen abstraction reactions of some model compounds for poly(vinyl acetate) have been briefly studied in relation to chain transfer and grafting reactions.     

Comparison of chemical effects of UV radiation from spark discharge in air and a low-pressure mercury lamp

The chemical effects of UV radiation from atmospheric-pressure spark discharge and a DBK-9 low-pressure mercury lamp in distilled water and aqueous solutions of hydrogen peroxide and tryptophan have been studied. Reactive species generated in water by the both radiation sources are HO ₂ ^· radicals, acid residue ions NO ₂ ^? and NO ₃ ^? , and ammonium ions. The yield of HO ₂ ^· radicals has appeared to be the same for both sources, (1.1–1.2) × 10^?6 mol L^?1 s^?1. This is confirmed by measurements of the degradation kinetics of tryptophan, which can be destroyed by HO ₂ ^· radicals. The pH of water monotonically decreases with time during the spark discharge treatment. In the case of the mercury lamp, the pH varies insignificantly because of the competition of NH ₄ ⁺ alkali ions with the acid residues. UV radiation plays the major role in the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide.     

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.     

Synthesis of a ‐shaped amphiphilic block copolymer by the combination of atom transfer radical polymerization and living anionic polymerization

The functionalization of monomer units in the form of macroinitiators in an orthogonal fashion yields more predictable macromolecular architectures and complex polymers. Therefore, a new ‐shaped amphiphilic block copolymer, (PMMA)₂–PEO–(PS)₂–PEO–(PMMA)₂ [where PMMA is poly(methyl methacrylate), PEO is poly (ethylene oxide), and PS is polystyrene], has been designed and successfully synthesized by the combination of atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and living anionic polymerization. The synthesis of meso‐2,3‐dibromosuccinic acid acetate/diethylene glycol was used to initiate the polymerization of styrene via ATRP to yield linear (HO)₂–PS₂ with two active hydroxyl groups by living anionic polymerization via diphenylmethylpotassium to initiate the polymerization of ethylene oxide. Afterwards, the synthesized miktoarm‐4 amphiphilic block copolymer, (HO–PEO)₂–PS₂, was esterified with 2,2‐dichloroacetyl chloride to form a macroinitiator that initiated the polymerization of methyl methacrylate via ATRP to prepare the ‐shaped amphiphilic block copolymer. The polymers were characterized with gel permeation chromatography and ¹H NMR spectroscopy. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 147–156, 2007     

Determination of the gas-phase decomposition rate constants of heptyl-1 and heptyl-2 hydroperoxides C7H15OOH

The gas-phase decomposition of n-heptyl-1 and n-heptyl-2 hydroperoxides C₇H₁₅OOH, which split into two radicals C₇H₁₅O and OH, has been investigated in the temperature range of 250–360°C. The decomposition has been carried out in a hydrogen–oxygen mixture (the hydroperoxide represents about 50 ppm) so as to avoid secondary reactions between the formed radicals and the reactants. Although the H₂–O₂ mixture is not spontaneously reactive in our conditions, it operates the transformation, through a fast and well-known process, of the OH radicals into HO₂ radicals and then into H₂O₂. However, C₇H₁₅O radicals are also transformed into HO₂ radicals and then into H₂O₂, but through an unknown process. To avoid heterogeneous reactions, vessel and probe are coated by B₂O₃ and then treated by the slow combustion of hydrogen at 510°C and 250 torr before the experiments are performed. As the reaction scheme is very simple, due to the use of the H₂–O₂ mixture, the determination of the evolutions of the HO₂ concentration (followed by electronic paramagnetic resonance) lead to the determination of the gas-phase decomposition rate constant of hydroperoxides. For the n-heptyl-1 hydroperoxide the rate constant is and for the n-heptyl-2 hydroperoxide it is .     

Self-Immolative Amphiphilic Poly(ferrocenes) for Synergistic Amplification of Oxidative Stress in Tumor Therapy

Amphiphilic self-immolative polymers (SIPs) can achieve complete degradation solely through one triggerable event, which potentially optimize the blood clearance and uncontrollable/inert degradability for therapeutic nanoparticles. Herein, we report self-immolative amphiphilic poly(ferrocenes), BP ^nbs -Fc , composed by self-immolative backbone and aminoferrocene (AFc) side chains as well as end-capping poly(ethylene glycol) monomethyl ether. Upon triggering by tumor acidic milieu, the BP ^nbs -Fc nanoparticles readily degrade to release azaquinone methide (AQM) moieties, which can rapidly deplete intracellular glutathione (GSH) to cascade release AFc. Furthermore, both AFc and its product Fe²⁺ can catalyze intracellular hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) into highly reactive hydroxyl radicals (⋅OH), thus amplifying the oxidative stress of tumor cells. Rational synergy of GSH depletion and ⋅OH burst can efficiently inhibit tumor growth by the SIPs in vitro and in vivo. This work provides an elegant design to adopt innate tumor milieu-triggerable SIPs degradation to boost cellular oxidative stress, which is a promising candidate for precision medicine.