Electronic structure of 1,3-dinitrobenzene radical anion: A multiconfigurational quantum chemical study

The structure of 1,3-dinitrobenzene radical anion in the doublet ground and lowest excited states was studied by ab initio multiconfiguration CASSCF methods. The results of calculations suggest the existence of one symmetrical and two asymmetrical structures of the radical anion. The energies of these structures were estimated. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 12, pp. 2645–2647, December, 2005.     

Density functional investigation on electron-transfer catalysis of cycloreversion of cyclobutane: radical anion mechanism

The mechanism of cycloreversion of cyclobutane radical anion (c-C(4)H(8) (-)) has been investigated at the UB3LYP/6-31++G(d,p) level, and compared with those of neutral c-C(4)H(8) and c-C(4)H(8) (+) radical cation. Although both c-C(4)H(8) (-) and C(2)H(4) are shown to be Rydberg states unstable with respect to electron ejection, the activation barrier for the "rotating" cycloreversion of c-C(4)H(8) (-) (37.3 kcal/mol) is lower by about 25.2 kcal/mol than that of c-C(4)H(8), and even the intervention of tetramethylene radical anion intermediate may reduce the activation barrier for the cycloreversion of c-C(4)H(8) by about 8.4 kcal/mol, mainly due to stronger electron-deficiency of intermediate biradical species than close-shell cyclobutanes. For the cycloreversion for c-C(4)H(8) (-), side isomerization reaction may be efficiently prevented by the low kinetic stability of tetramethylene radical anion intermediate towards dissociation, just different from the radical cation case. Our theoretical results have suggested the possibility of electron-attachment catalysis of the cycloreversion of some electron-deficient substituted cyclobutanes.     

Structure, vibrational frequencies, ionization energies, and photoelectron spectrum of the para-benzyne radical anion

Equilibrium structure, vibrational frequencies, and ionization energies of the para-benzyne radical anion are characterized by coupled-cluster and equation-of-motion methods. Vibronic interactions with the low-lying excited state result in a flat potential energy surface along the coupling mode and even in a lower-symmetry C_2v structures. Additional complications arise due to Hartree–Fock instabilities and near-instabilities. The magnitude of vibronic interactions was characterized by geometrical parameters, charge localization patterns and energy differences between the D_2h and C_2v structures. The observed trends suggest that the C_2v minimum predicted by several theoretical methods is an artifact of incomplete correlation treatment. The comparison between the calculated and experimental spectrum confirmed D_2h structure of the anion, as well as accuracy of the coupled-cluster and spin-flip structures, frequencies and normal modes of the anion and the diradical. Density functional calculations (B3LYP) yielded only a D_2h minimum, however, the quality of the structure and vibrational frequencies is poor, as follows from the comparison to high-level wave function calculations and the calculated spectrum. The analysis of charge localization patterns and the performance of different functionals revealed that B3LYP underestimates the magnitude of vibronic interactions due to self-interaction error. Contribution to the Mark S. Gordon 65th Birthday Festschrift Issue.     

Reactions of heme proteins with carbonate radical anion

Reactions of radiolytically generated CO₃ ^•− with some ferric heme proteins, catalase, cytochrome c, and horseradish peroxidase (HRP), were studied. Carbonate radical anion oxidized amino acid residues of these proteins, but did not react directly with heme iron. HRP and catalase lost about 30% and 20% of their activity, respectively, after the reaction with 100 μM of CO₃ ^•−. The rate constants of the reactions of CO₃ ^•− with the investigated proteins measured by the pulse radiolysis method at pH 8–8.4 and 10 varied from 1.0 × 10⁸ M⁻¹ s⁻¹ (for cytochrome c) to 3.7 × 10⁹ M⁻¹ s⁻¹ (for catalase).     

Efficient electrocatalytic intramolecular anion radical cyclobutanation reactions

Electrochemically initiated, intramolecular anion radical cyclobutanations of bis(enones) and related substrates are presented. The formation of novel anion radical Diels-Alder adducts in minor amounts is also observed. Total yields of pericyclic products, which include both cis- and trans-cyclobutanes and a single Diels-Alder adduct, are generally high (51-88%), with electrocatalytic factors in the range of 1.5-5. Mechanistically, strong evidence for the intervention of distonic anion radical intermediates as precursors of both types of pericyclic products is presented. The scope and limitations of these reactions are rather extensively explored and defined, and in particular the tendency, in some cases, for electrogenerated base-catalyzed reactions to compete with these anion radical pericyclic reactions.     

Oxidation of caffeine by phosphate radical anion in aqueous solution under anoxic conditions

The photooxidation of caffeine in presence of peroxydiphosphate (PDP) in aqueous solution at natural pH (∼7.5) has been carried out in a quantum yield reactor using a high-pressure mercury lamp. The reactions were followed spectrophotometrically by measuring the absorbance of caffeine at λ_max (272 nm). The rates of reaction were calculated under different experimental conditions. The quantum yields were calculated from the rates of oxidation of caffeine and the intensity of light at 254 nm which was measured by using peroxydisulphate solution as a standard chemical actinometer. The reaction rates of oxidation of caffeine by PDP increase with increase in [PDP] as well as with increase in light intensity, while they are independent of [caffeine]. The quantum yields of oxidation of caffeine by PDP are independent of [PDP] as well as light intensity. However, quantum yields of oxidation of caffeine by PDP increase with increase in caffeine concentration. On the basis of these experimental results and product analysis, a probable mechanism has been suggested in which PDP is activated to phosphate radical anions (PO₄ ^·2−) by direct photolysis of PDP and also by the sensitizing effect of caffeine. The phosphate radical anions thus produced react with caffeine by electron transfer reaction, resulting in the formation of caffeine radical cation, which deprotonates in a fast step to produce C8-OH adduct radicals. These radicals might react with PDP to give final product 1,3,7-trimethyluric acid and PO₄ ^·2− radicals, the latter propagates the chain reaction.     

分光光度法测定二氢黄酮化合物对超氧阴离子自由基的清除作用

采用分光光度法测定了来源于几种药用植物的天然二氢黄酮类化合物清除超氧阴离子自由基(O-2·)的能力,探讨了二氢黄酮类化合物清除O-2·的活性与结构之间的关系,以期为开发利用天然抗氧化剂提供科学依据.     

维生素C磷酸酯镁的稳定性及其清除超氧离子自由基的动力学

维生素C磷酸酯镁(magnesium ascorbyl phosphate,MAP)是维生素C(VC)的替代品,由于其特有的性质而广泛应用在食品添加剂中.对比测定了MAP和VC清除超氧阴离子自由基(O2-·)的能力,研究了VC和MAP在不同温度和不同保存时间后清除O2-·自由基的能力和稳定性;并拟合了不同温度下储存不同时间后MAP的抗氧化能力.结果表明,MAP在20℃下保存20d对O2-·的清除能力仅减弱20%左右,半衰期为53d;但VC在20℃下保存10d后清除O2-·的能力几乎完全消失.与此同时,不同温度下储存不同时间后MAP清除超氧阴离子自由基的反应为一级反应,采用拟合方程计算的抗氧化能力理论值和实验值基本相符.     

Ring opening of the cyclobutane in a thymine dimer radical anion

The reactions of hydrated electrons (e(aq) (-)) with thymine dimer 2 and thymidine have been investigated by radiolytic methods coupled with product studies, and addressed computationally by means of BB1K-HMDFT calculations. Pulse radiolysis revealed that one-electron reduction of the thymine dimer 2 affords the radical anion of thymidine (5) with t(1/2)<35 ns. Indeed, the theoretical study suggests that radical anion 3, in which the spin density and charge distribution are located in both thymine rings, undergoes a fast partially ionic splitting of the cyclobutane with a half-life of a few ps. This model fits with the in vivo observation of thymine dimer repair in DNA by photolyase. gamma-Radiolysis of thymine dimer 2 demonstrates that the one-electron reduction and the subsequent cleavage of the cyclobutane ring does not proceed by means of a radical chain mechanism, that is, in this model reaction the T(-)* is unable to transfer an electron to the thymine dimer 2.     

On‐line HPLC method for screening of antioxidants against superoxide anion radical from complex mixtures

A practical approach for rapidly screening antioxidants against superoxide anion radicals from complex mixtures was developed based on the quantitative difference in active compounds before and after their reaction. To test the effectiveness of the approach, seven flavonoids with antioxidative properties were investigated both individually and in a mixture. Using the approach, antioxidants could be rapidly separated and screened with a ranked order of activities in the meantime. The radical scavenging activities were in the following order: quercetin > kaempferol > fisetin > puerarin > luteolin > rutin > baicalein. The order of activity was conducted by comparing the scavenging ratio of the antioxidant, which was completely consistent with the results obtained from the traditional electronic spin resonance. Then, the method was successfully applied to black tea extracts. This approach is fast and convenient for screening, isolating, and analyzing potential antioxidants from a mixture with good quantitative and reproducible ability.     

The first BETS radical cation salts with dicyanamide anion: Crystal growth, structure and conductivity study

Electrochemical oxidation of bis(ethylenedithio)tetraselenafulvalene (BETS) has been investigated. Simple and complex dicyanamides of transition metals (Mn²⁺, Ni²⁺ and Fe²⁺) were used as electrolytes. The correlation between composition of prepared radical cation salts and metal nature in electrolytes was established. Manganese dicyanamides provide the formation of BETS salts with the {Mn[N(CN)₂]₃}- and [N(CN)₂]-XH₂O anions. When Ni- or Fe-containing electrolytes were used only metalless BETS salts, α″-BETS₂[N(CN)₂]·2H₂O (I) and θ-BETS₂[N(CN)₂]·3.6H₂O (II), formed. Structures and conducting properties of these salts were analyzed. Both salts exhibit layered structure. Conducting radical cation layers have α″ (I)- or θ-type (II). Anion sheets appear as two-dimensional polymer networks of different types. These networks are formed by [N(CN)]₂⁻ anions and water molecules interlinked by hydrogen bonds. Salt I is a semiconductor and II demonstrates resistance drop down to150 K at normal pressure and down to 72 K at ∼0.4 kbar pressure.     

Temperature dependence of EPR spectrum of 2-trifluoromethylnitrobenzene radical anion in acetonitrile

Temperature dependence of the EPR spectrum of 2-trifluoromethylnitrobenzene radical anion in anhydrous acetonitrile in the temperature range 217 K ≤ T ≤ 296 K was studied and simulated. Temperature-dependent dynamic modulation of the fluorine isotropic hyperfine structure is caused by slow hindered rotation of CF₃ group with an activation energy of E _F* = 36.5±0.5 kJ mol⁻¹, which is the highest value for motions in π-type free radicals studied to date. Dedicated to the memory of Academician V. A. Koptyug on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of his birth. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 6, pp. 926–931, June, 2006.     

Formation of the fullerene radical anion in the reaction of C60 with phosphorous triamides

Fullerene C₆₀ reacts with phosphorous acid triamides to give the radical anion. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 1, pp. 201–203, January, 2008.     

Theoretical study of the electronic excited states of tetracyanoethylene and its radical anion.

The low-lying electronic states of tetracyanoethylene (TCNE) and its radical anion were studied using multiconfigurational second-order perturbation theory (CASPT2) and extended atomic natural orbital (ANO) basis sets. The results obtained yield a full interpretation of the electronic absorption spectra, explain the spectral changes undergone upon reduction, give support to the occurrence of a bound excited state for the anionic species, and provide valuable information for the rationalization of the experimental data obtained with electron transmission spectroscopy.     

Kinetics and mechanism of protection of thymine from sulphate radical anion under anoxic conditions

The rates of photooxidation of thymine in presence of peroxydisulphate (PDS) have been determined by measuring the absorbance of thymine at 264 nm spectrophotometrically. The rates and the quantum yields (φ) of oxidation of thymine by sulphate radical anion have been determined in the presence of different concentrations of caffeic acid. Increase in [caffeic acid] is found to decrease the rate of oxidation of thymine suggesting that caffeic acid acts as an efficient scavenger of SO ₄ ^•- and protects thymine from it. Sulphate radical anion competes for thymine as well as for caffeic acid. The rate constant of sulphate radical anion with caffeic acid has been calculated to be 1.24 x 10¹⁰ dm³ mol^-1s^-1. The quantum yields of photooxidation of thymine have been calculated from the rates of oxidation of thymine and the light intensity absorbed by PDS at 254 nm, the wavelength at which PDS is activated to sulphate radical anion. From the results of experimentally determined quantum yields (φ_expt1) and the quantum yields calculated (φ_cl) assuming caffeic acid acting only as a scavenger of SO ₄ ^•- radicals show that φ_expt1 values are lower than φ_cl values. The φ ’ values, which are experimentally found quantum yield values at each caffeic acid concentration and corrected for SO ₄ ^•- scavenging by caffeic acid, are also found to be greater than φ_expt1 values. These observations suggest that the thymine radicals are repaired by caffeic acid in addition to scavenging of sulphate radical anions.     

Theoretical mechanisms of the superoxide radical anion catalyzed by the copper‐zinc superoxide dismutase

The disproportionation of superoxide radical anions catalyzed by copper‐zinc superoxide dismutase was investigated in detail using density functional theory. The structures of each stationary point and the transition states were located so that the reaction pathways were determined. The results indicate that the reactions proceed by two steps both for the oxidized process of superoxide radical anion and the reduced one. The rate for the determining step of the reaction (2) is in very good agreement with the experimental value. The solvation effect on the reaction was also discussed. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2010     

Detection of synergistic effect of superoxide dismutase and jujubosides on scavenging superoxide anion radical by capillary electrophoresis

A new capillary electrophoresis method was developed to study the synergistic effect of superoxide dismutase and jujuboside A or B on scavenging superoxide anion radical in serum matrix respectively, in which superoxide anion radical was generated from pyrogallol autoxidation. The electrophoresis conditions, and the factors affecting the productive rate of purpurogallin, such as pyrogallol autoxidation product and the activity of superoxide dismutase, were optimized. Under optimal conditions, the content of superoxide dismutase in Gibco newborn calf serum was 7.06 mg/L, RSD was 2.01% and the average recovery was 98.4%. The values of IC₅₀ for jujuboside A and B in the serum matrix were 157.67 and 31.60 mg/L respectively, and they both had synergy on scavenging superoxide anion radical with superoxide dismutase, but there was no the dose‐dependency on this synergy.     

Highly effective electrochemical anion sensing based on oxoporphyrinogen

The effect of anion binding on the oxidation potential of an anion receptor, N₂₁,N₂₃-dibenzyl-5,10,15,20-(3,5-di-t-butyl-4-oxo-cyclohexa-2,5-dienylidene)porphyrinogen, 1 in o-dichlorobenzene is reported. The anion binding site of 1, at its inner pyrrolic amine hydrogens, is an integral part of the highly conjugated macrocycle, thus predicting larger potential shifts upon anion binding. Accordingly, cathodic shifts up to 600 mV are observed upon anion binding and such potential shifts correlate well with the anion binding constants.     

Intrinsic barrier for protonation of radical anions

Ab initio calculations on radical anions show that, counterintuitively, protonation on the radicaloid carbon is favored. In the case of radical anions derived from acrylonitrile and acrylaldehyde, protonation on the heteroatom is less favored than protonation on the radicaloid carbon. However, in nitroethylene, the preferred protonation site is on the nitro oxygen in accordance with experimental observation.     

Indirect determination of superoxide anion radical in the plant of red sage based on vanillin-8-aminoquinoline with fluorescence

A novel spectrofluorimetric method using vanillin-8-aminoquinoline (VAQ) as fluorescent probe was developed for the determination of superoxide anion radical (O₂⁻). The new fluorescent probe was characterized by elemental analysis and IR spectra. Under the optimum conditions of the determination, the linear calibration range and the detection limit of the developed method for superoxide anion radical were in the range (0.0-1.0)×10⁻⁵ and 2.0×10⁻⁸ mol l⁻¹, respectively. The effect of interferences was studied. The proposed method was applied to determine the generation rate of superoxide anion radical in the course of aging in red sage successfully.