A quantum chemical study on the OH radical quenching by natural antioxidant fisetin

In this work, the antioxidant ability of fisetin was explored toward hydroxyl (?OH) radical in aqueous and lipid solution using density functional level of theory. Different reaction mechanisms have been studied: hydrogen atom transfer, single electron transfer followed by proton transfer, and radical adduct formation, and sequential proton loss electron transfer. Rate constants for all possible reaction sites have been calculated using conventional transition state theory in conjunction with the Collins‐Kimball theory. Branching ratios for the different channels of reaction are reported for the first time. Results show that the reactivity of fisetin toward hydroxyl (^?OH) radical takes place almost exclusively by radical adduct formation regardless of the polarity of the environment. Also, the single‐electron transfer process seems to be thermodynamically unfavorable in both media.     

The antioxidant activity of 4‐hydroxycoumarin derivatives and some sulfured analogs

In this work, the relationship between the structure and the radical scavenging activity of seven hydroxycoumarins and their sulfured analogs was investigated for the first time by density functional theory calculation in the gas phase, benzene, and water. Our investigation includes hydrogen atom transfer, single‐electron transfer–proton transfer, and sequential proton loss electron transfer mechanisms. The results revealed that the bond dissociation enthalpy values of sulfured coumarins were lower than those of hydroxylated analogs. The obtained results were in a good agreement with the experimental results. The hydrogen atom transfer mechanism is dominant in both benzene and vacuum. The sequential proton loss electron transfer mechanism represents the most thermodynamically preferred reaction pathway in water. However, single‐electron transfer–proton transfer mechanism is not the most preferred one in all media. Finally, this work contributes to the understanding of the pharmacological activity of the compounds studied. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A DFT study on the structure and radical scavenging activity of newly synthesized hydroxychalcones

Quantum‐chemical computations based on the density functional theory have been employed to study the relation between the structure and the radical scavenging activity of six newly synthesized hydroxychalcones. The three main working mechanisms, hydrogen atom transfer (HAT), stepwise electron‐transfer‐proton‐transfer, and sequential‐proton‐loss‐electron‐transfer (SPLET), were investigated, and the O–H bond dissociation enthalpy, ionization potential, proton dissociation enthalpy, and electron transfer energy parameters were computed in the gas phase and in solvents using PCM model. The geometry structure, radical, electron character, and the frontier molecular orbital were analyzed to explore the key factors that influence the radical scavenging activity of the hydroxychalcones. Results indicated that 3,4‐dihydroxychalcone (6) possessing the catechol functionality is expected to be more efficient hydrogen atom and proton donor than others. The theoretical results confirm the important role of the B‐ring and shed light on the role of the o‐dihydroxy (catechol) moiety in the antioxidant properties of hydroxychalcones. In addition, the calculated results are in good agreement with experimental values. It was found that HAT is the most favored mechanism for explaining the radical‐scavenger activity of hydroxychalcone in the gas phase, whereas SPLET mechanism is thermodynamically preferred pathway in aqueous solutions. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Comparative study of p‐amino benzhydrazide and m‐amino benzhydrazide by free radicals and free electron transfer

The bimolecular electron transfer from p‐amino benzhydrazide (PABH) and its meta‐derivative (m‐amino benzhydrazide (MABH)) to specific one‐electron oxidant results in the formation of anilino radical. In case of PABH, reaction with ^?OH radicals results in the synchronous formation of adduct as well as anilino radical. The interesting observation is that the yield of the anilino radical increases with increase in pH. The effect of substitution also has a significant effect on the formation of adduct. In case of MABH, significant yield of anilino radical gets form on reaction with ^?OH radical. The free radical electron transfer from PABH and MABH to parent radical cation of non‐polar solvent also results in the formation of anilino radical only suggesting that the radical cation of PABH and MABH has short life time. The above results were supported by quantum chemical calculations. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Study of interaction of aliphatic alcohols with primary radical cations of n-alkanes using MARY spectroscopy

MARY spectroscopy (the radical ion pair level crossing technique) was employed to probe the reaction of proton transfer from primary radical cations of n-alkanes to alcohol molecules in liquid solution. Alcohols were demonstrated to react with the primary radical cation of the solvent, leaving the counterion of the radical ion pair unaffected. The broadening of the zero field MARY line, tentatively attributed to the proton transfer reaction, was found to be independent of the proton affinity of the species in the studied systems, estimated from gas-phase data. The rate constant of the reaction is close to the diffusion controlled limit within the experimental accuracy for all the studied alcohol/solvent combinations.     

Study of scavenging action of zingerone towards the OH radical: formation of vanillin and ferulic acid

The scavenging action of zingerone, a phenolic anti‐oxidant, toward the hydroxyl radical has been studied employing density functional theory. All the relevant potential energy surface extrema were located by optimizing geometries of the reactant complexes, transition states, and product complexes in gas phase. Solvent effect of aqueous media was treated by performing single point energy calculations using the polarizable continuum model. It has been shown how following certain steps of hydrogen abstraction and addition reactions and using a few OH radicals along with zingerone or its degradation products, two other anti‐oxidants, namely vanillin and ferulic acid can be formed. The mechanism of anti‐oxidant action of zingerone through single electron transfer has also been studied. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Pourbaix diagrams in weakly coupled systems: a case study involving acridinol and phenanthridinol pseudobases

The thermodynamics of proton‐coupled electron transfer (PCET) in weakly coupled organic pseudobases was investigated using 2,7‐dimethyl‐9‐hydroxy‐9‐phenyl‐10‐tolyl‐9,10‐dihydroacridine (AcrOH) and 6‐phenylphenanthridinol (PheOH) as model compounds. Pourbaix diagrams for two model compounds were constructed using the oxidation potentials and the pK_a values obtained, respectively, from cyclic voltammetry and photometric titrations. Our comparative study reveals the importance of having the redox active –N center closer to –OH functionality on the thermodynamics of PCET process: PheOH exhibits a wider range of pH values (pH = 2.8 to 13.3) in which both the alcohol and the corresponding alkoxy radical are expected to coexist in solution. This result indicates that a concerted mechanism is more likely to be discovered in pseudobases analogous to PheOH. The thermochemical data also indicate that the concerted PCET mechanism cannot be achieved if water is used as the proton acceptor: assuming the pK_a of hydronium ions as ?1.7, the PCET involving PheOH or AcrOH as proton/electron donors and water as the proton acceptor is expected to follow the stepwise ET/PT mechanism. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A DFT investigation into the structure and energetics for nonadiabatic proton transfer in the benzophenone/N,N‐dimethylaniline contact radical ion pair

For the past 60 years, the standard model for the interpretation of the mechanism for proton transfer has been based upon transition‐state theory, which posits that the transition state is found in the proton transfer coordinate involving the breaking and making of bonds. However, the observed dynamics of proton transfer within the triplet contact radical ion pair, derived from a variety of substituted benzophenones complexed with N,N‐dimethylaniline, cannot be accounted for within the standard model for proton transfer. Instead, the kinetic behavior is in accord with nonadiabatic proton transfer theory that has the transition state in the solvent coordinate. Evidence for the importance of the solvent coordinate comes from the existence of an inverted region; as the driving force for reaction increases, the rate of proton transfer decreases. This kinetic behavior is not found in the standard model. The present paper employs density function theory to examine the question as to whether the inverted region can be attributed to the transition state being in the solvent coordinate or whether the inverted region is an artifact produced by changes in the structure of the triplet contact radical ion pair with the placement of substituents upon the p,p′ positions of benzophenone. It is concluded that the inverted region is not an artifact of substituent effects upon structure. These results support the conclusion that the transition state for proton transfer resides in the solvent coordinate and challenges the validity of the standard model for interpreting the mechanism of proton transfer. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Reaction of OH radical and ozone with methyl salicylate – a DFT study

A theoretical study on the reaction mechanism of methyl salicylate (MeSA), a green leaf volatile organic compound with OH radical and ozone, has been carried out using density functional theory methods using B3LYP, M06‐2X and MPW1K functionals with 6‐311++G(d,p) basis set. The atmospheric degradation pathways of MeSA with OH radical are studied under two different pathways, viz. H‐atom abstraction and electrophilic addition of OH radical. The hydrogen abstraction from –OH group is found to be the dominant reaction channel with small barrier height. Likewise, the electrophilic addition of OH radicals at the para position of MeSA is found to be favourable rather than the ortho and meta positions because of the small barrier height. However, the reaction of MeSA with respect to the addition of O₃ is initiated only through the cycloaddition to the C?C bond, resulting in primary ozonide. The Arrhenius plot for most of the addition reaction shows positive temperature dependence, while for the abstraction reaction, it exhibits negative temperature dependence over the temperature range of 278–350 K. The calculated theoretical rate constants are in good agreement with available experimental data. Overall, the addition of both OH radical and ozone possesses ability to degrade MeSA, but slower when compared with the Cl radical. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Hidden chemistry of substituted aniline radical cations in water: a mechanistic study

Absolute rate constants for hydroxyl radical, azide radical, and hydrated electron reactions with a sulfa drug 4,4'‐diamino diphenyl sulfone (dapsone) in water have been evaluated using electron pulse radiolysis technique. Absolute rate constants for hydroxyl radical and azide radical were determined as (8.4 ± 0.3) × 10⁹ and (5.6 ± 0.5) × 10⁹ M^?1 s^?1, respectively. The reduction of dapsone with the hydrated electron occurred with rate constant of (9.2 ± 0.1) × 10⁹ M^?1 s^?1. Hydroxyl radical reactions result in the synchronous formation of adduct as well as anilino radical. The interesting observation is that the yield of the anilino radical increases with increase in pH. Contrary to this, the yield of the adduct decreases with pH. We propose that hydroxyl radical adds predominantly to the aniline. In contrast, the reaction of azide radical with the dapsone suggests that the reaction occurs at the –NH₂ moiety of the aniline ring. The free radical electron transfer from dapsone to parent radical cation of non‐polar solvent also results in the formation of anilino radical only suggesting that the radical cation of dapsone has a short lifetime. The reaction of hydrated electrons with the dapsone suggests that the reaction occurs at different reaction site. The experimental results supported by theoretical calculations of this study provide fundamental mechanistic parameters that probably decide the fate of the radical cation of aniline derivatives. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The reactivity of the 5‐formylcytosine with hydroxyl radical: A theoretical perspective

Hydroxyl radical (?OH) damages DNA/RNA by attacking pyrimidine nucleobases through the addition reaction and H‐atom abstraction. It may attack on the new cytosine derivative (5‐formylCytosine [5‐fCyt]) causing DNA oxidative damage, whereas the study of the related mechanism is still in its infancy. In the present work, 2 distinct mechanisms of ?OH‐mediated 5‐fCyt at the complete basis set methods (CBS‐QB3) and CBS‐QB3/polarized continuum model approaches have firstly been explored, the addition reaction (paths R1 ~ R3) and the abstraction reaction (paths R4 ~ R6), respectively, and it shows that the addition of ?OH to the C5═C6 double bond of 5‐fCyt is more favourable than other reactions, indicating that the ?OH addition to the C5 and C6 atoms have relatively high probability to happen. The proportion of the C5 and C6 adducts is large and may be detectable experimentally, which is in agreement with the conclusions of ?OH‐mediated cytosine reaction reported experimentally and theoretically. These hint that the new DNA base (5‐fCyt) is easily damaged when exposed the surrounding of ?OH environment. Therefore, the reducing free radical production or the addition of some antioxidants should be taken in embryonic stem cells to resistance DNA damage. Our results provide some evidences between 5‐fCyt and tumor development for the experimental scientists.     

苹果酸结构类似物抗氧化活性的DFT研究

最近从葡萄酒中鉴定并分离出两种苹果酸(MA)结构类似物：2-异丙基苹果酸(2-IPMA)和3-异丙基苹果酸(3-IPMA).使用密度泛函理论(DFT)评估了MA, 2-IPMA和3-IPMA的构象和抗氧化相关热力学性质,结果显示,2-IPMA和3-IPMA的C₂羟基具有较高的自由基清除活性.基于大多数抗氧化剂的单线态比三线态更稳定,预测2-IPMA和3-IPMA将分别在气相条件下通过双氢原子转移(dHAT),顺序双质子损失双电子转移(SdPLdET)和双电子转移质子转移(dET-PT)方式参与自由基清除途径,形成4-甲基-3-氧代戊酸和3-甲基-2-甲酰丁酸.根据低能量消耗优先原则,2-IPMA和3-IPMA优先清除自由基的途径依次为：HAT, ET-PT和SPLET.计算结果证实了当前研究的假设,并表明就反应焓热力学数据而言,两种MA类似物的抗氧化能力有利于HAT途径.     

Thermodynamic and kinetic analysis of the reaction between biological catecholamines and chlorinated methylperoxy radicals

The antiradical potency of catecholamines (dopamine, epinephrine, norepinephrine, L-DOPA), metabolites of dopamine (homovanillic acid, 3-methoxytyramine and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid) and catechol towards substituted methylperoxy radicals is investigated. The thermodynamic parameters, together with the kinetic approach, are used to determine the most probable mechanism of action. The natural bond orbital and quantum theory of atoms in molecules are utilised to explain the highest reactivity of trichloromethylperoxy radical. The preferred mechanism is dependent both on the thermodynamic and kinetic parameters . The number of chlorine atoms on radical, the presence of intra-molecular hydrogen bond and number of hydroxy groups attached to the aromatic ring significantly influence the mechanism. The results suggest that sequential proton loss electron transfer (SPLET) is the most probable for reaction with methylperoxy and hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) for reaction with trichloromethylperoxy radicals, with a gradual transition between SPLET and HAT for other two radicals. Due to the significant deprotonation of molecules containing the carboxyl group, the respective anions are also investigated. The HAT and SPLET mechanisms are highly competitive in reaction with MP radical, while the dominant mechanism towards chlorinated radicals is HAT. The reactions in methanol and benzene are also discussed.     

芦丁-锗配合物的合成及清除氧自由基活性的研究

合成了芦丁-锗()配合物(Ru-Ge),采用红外光谱、紫外光谱法表征了配合物。试验了配合物清除羟基自由基(.OH)、超氧自由基(O2-.)和DPPH.自由基的能力。结果表明:芦丁-锗()配合物清除O-2.的能力与芦丁相当,但清除.OH和DPPH.自由基的能力明显优于芦丁。     

氨/乙醇混合团簇多光子电离质谱

用多光子电离技术结合飞行时间质谱仪对氨与乙醇混合团簇进行了研究。在脉冲激光波长分别为266,355nm和532nm条件下,仅在355nm作用下观测到团簇离子。主要的电离产物为质子化的（C2H5OH）n（NH3）mH＋（n=0—3,m=0—4）混合团簇离子,且各个序列的离子强度随m的增大而减小。经分析,氨与乙醇混合团簇电离后团簇离子发生内部质子化转移反应是形成质子化团簇离子的主要原因。不同尺寸团簇离子信号强度随电离激光光强变化的光强指数曲线显示,团簇均发生四光子电离过程。通过理论计算得到其中性和离子团簇的稳定结构,解离能,解离通道。并证实团簇发生电离解离时发生了团簇内质子转移反应。     

A mechanistic dichotomy in concerted versus stepwise pathways in hydride and hydrogen transfer reactions of NADH analogues

A mechanistic dichotomy of one‐step versus stepwise pathways in hydride and hydrogen transfer reactions of NADH analogues is discussed including the relation between two pathways: a continuous change versus a discontinuous change of the mechanism. Examples of stepwise electron–proton–electron transfer through a charge transfer (CT) complex in hydride transfer from NADH analogues to hydride acceptors are presented including the detection and the reactivity of the intermediate, that is, radical cations of NADH analogues. The relation between stepwise versus one‐step mechanisms of hydride and hydrogen transfer reaction of NADH analogues is also clarified by showing examples of the change of the mechanism including the borderline. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Application of Optically Detected EPR to Study the Stability of Sterically Hindered Amine Radical Cations to Proton Transfer Reaction

Optically detected electron paramagnetic resonance technique has been applied to study the stability of sterically hindered amine radical cations with respect to the ion–molecule proton transfer reaction in liquid squalane solutions. The reaction has proved very sensitive to the steric effect of bulky tertiary substituents at the nitrogen atom. It has been established that steric hindrance is able to efficiently block the N–H proton transfer reaction, while the H-bonding may stabilize the distonic intermediate complex of aminyl radical and cation of ammonium type.     

甲基紫精与醇类间的光诱导电子转移及光催化反应的ESR研究

用ESR方法研究了甲基紫精(MV⁺⁺)与甲醇,乙醇及苄醇等之间的光诱导电子转移和光反应过程.结果发现,甲基紫精存在条件下,某些很稳定的醇类也可以发生光催化分解和光催化氧化的反应,甲基紫精在反应过程中起的是催化剂的作用在无氧条件下,MV⁺⁺/C₂H₅OH体系经UV光照10min后即可观察到很强的MV⁺离子基的信号,表明甲基紫精与乙醇分子之间发生了电子转移;当进行较长时间光辐照,则MV⁺离子基逐步消失而生成H原子和碳中心自由基。在通氧条件下进行光照时,则无MV⁺基信号而产生OOH基和碳中心自由基的信号.当体系中有一定量的水存在时,OOH基减弱而产生·OH基,且随着水量的增加,·OOH基的强度更为减弱直至消失,而同时羟基浓度则大大增加.另一个有趣而重要的现象是,对于MV⁺⁺/苄醇体系,在通氧条件下辐照时可给出很强的超氧阴离子基O₂^-的信号,而MV⁺⁺/甲醇体系可产生较弱的O₂^-信号.但是在无氧时甲基紫精的存在进行光辐照甲醇并不发生反应,而苄醇却可被甲基紫精光催化分解产生很强的苄氧基,羟甲基等自由基.本文详细地研究和讨论了甲基紫精与几种醇之间的光诱导电子转移和相应的均相光催化反应过程的机理.     

Electron transfer within 1,3‐dinitrobenzene radical anions: electron hopping or superexchange?

The intramolecular electron transfer on several 1,3‐dinitrobenzene radical anions with different substituents on position 5 was studied by electron paramagnetic resonance and optical spectroscopies in MeCN. The radical anions are all charge‐localized mixed valence species, as is common for meta‐substituted dinitrobenzenes. Rate constants for the electron transfer reaction were obtained by the Marcus–Hush analysis of the intervalence optical bands assuming quartic‐augmented energy surfaces and solvent‐controlled dynamics. These calculated rate constants match quite well the experimental ones obtained by simulation of the electron paramagnetic resonance spectra, which rules out bridge‐reduced states as intermediates in the reaction path and confirms the superexchange mechanism. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

DFT study on abstraction reaction mechanism of oh radical with 2‐methoxyphenol

Reaction mechanism of 2‐methoxyphenol (2MP) (guaiacol) with OH radical has been performed using density functional theory methods BH&HLYP and MPW1K method with 6‐311++G(d,p) basis set. Single‐point energy calculations were done using CCSD(T)/6‐311++G(d,p). The theoretical results reveal that the hydrogen abstraction from methoxy group is found to be the dominant reaction channel with an energy barrier of 9.31 kcal/mol. Also, time‐dependent density functional theory calculations have been performed using BH&HLYP/6‐311++G(d,p) level of theory, and the results reveal that the reactions occur in ground state than the excited state. The results of reaction force profile indicate that structural rearrangements are most influential with high percentage than the relaxation process. The calculated theoretical rate constants (12.19 × 10^?11 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1) are in good agreement with the experimental rate constant. The atmospheric lifetime of 2‐methoxyphenol with respect to OH radicals is 2.27 hours, which implies that OH radical plays an important role in the degradation of 2MP. The Wiberg bond index of the abstraction reaction reveals that the bond order is concerted, partially synchronic. The reactant‐like transition state satisfies Hammond postulate, which eventually results in an exothermic reaction, and the product‐like transition state reveals in endothermic nature.