Phenolic products of the high-temperature radiolysis of lignin

The products of the radiation-stimulated dry distillation of coniferous hydrolytic lignin at a residual pressure of 1–5 torr have been obtained and analyzed. The tar distilled off under irradiation conditions predominantly contains phenols, including about 33% benzenediols. Among the benzenediols, the fraction of catechols is 69%. Phenoxyl radicals are considered to be direct precursors of the phenolic products. It has been found that the formation of benzenediols can be due to the rupture of the ether bond in the methoxy group. Among secondary processes, the reactions of the addition of ^?H and ^?CH₃ radicals to the benzene ring have been considered.     

Features of stable radical generation in lignin on exposure to nitrogen dioxide

The mechanism of stable radical generation in lignin under the action of nitrogen dioxide and NO₂ - air mixture is considered. The formation of phenoxyl, iminoxyl and acylaminoxyl radicals has been detected by EPR. The proposed mechanism involves a primary oxidative reaction of phenol groups with dimers of NO₂ (nitrosyl nitrate) resulting in the formation of phenoxyl radicals and nitric oxide. In the subsequent recombination of phenoxyl radicals and nitric oxide, nitroso compounds and oximes are formed. By reaction of oximes with radicals NO₂, stable iminoxyl radicals are formed. This mechanism is confirmed by kinetic dependencies obtained over a wide range of NO₂ concentrations. From IR spectroscopy measurements it follows that hydroxyl groups of non-phenolic structures of lignin are oxidised to aldehydes producing acylaminoxyl radicals by reaction with NO₂. The kinetic data show that the adsorption of NO₂ on the lignin surface is the rate-determining factor in stable radical formation.     

Kinetic and redox characteristics of phenoxyl radicals of eugenol and isoeugenol: A pulse radiolysis study

The phenoxyl radicals of eugenol (EgOH) and isoeugenol (iEgOH) were generated by the specific one‐electron oxidant N₃^· using pulse radiolysis technique, and were characterized by their absorption spectra, decay and formation kinetics, and one‐electron reduction potential (E₇¹) values. Reactivities of eugenol phenoxyl radical with the biologically important molecule, trolox C (analogue of vitamin E, α‐tocopheral), were determined. Reactions of OH with these phenols were studied at different pHs and suitable mechanisms for these reactions were suggested. Scavenging abilities of the phenols toward highly damaging Br^·, NO₂^·, and CCl₃O₂^· radicals were evaluated. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 32: 17–23, 2000     

Rate constants for reactions of iodine atoms in solution

Laser flash photolysis (at 248 or 308 nm) or aryl iodides in water or water/methanol solutions produces iodine atoms and phenyl radicals. Iodine atoms react rapidly with added I^? to form I₂^? but do not react rapidly with O₂ (k ? 10⁷ L mol^?1 s^?1). Iodine atoms oxidize phenols to phenoxyl radicals, with rate constants that vary from 1.6 × 10⁷ L mol^?1 s^?1 for phenol to about 6 × 10⁹ L mol^?1 s^?1 for 4-methoxyphenol and hydroquinone. Ascorbate and a Vitamin E analogue are also oxidized very rapidly. N-Methylindole is oxidized by I atoms to its radical cation with a diffusion-controlled rate constant, 1.9 × 10¹⁰ L mol^?1 s^?1. Iodine atoms also oxidize sulfite and ferrocyanide ions rapidly but do not add to double bonds. The phenyl radicals, produced along with the I atoms, react with O₂ to give phenylperoxyl radicals, which react with phenols much more slowly than I atoms. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Oxidation of white phosphorus by peroxides in water

A mixture of hypophosphorous, phosphorous, and phosphoric acids is formed during the anaerobic oxidation of white phosphorus by peroxides [ROOН; R = Н, 3-ClC₆H₄CO, (СН₃)₃С] in water. The rate of reactions grows considerably upon adding nonpolar organic solvents. The activity series of peroxides and solvents are determined experimentally. NMR spectroscopy shows that the main product of the reaction is phosphorous acid, regardless of the nature of the peroxide and solvent. A radical mechanism of oxidation of white phosphorus by peroxides in water is proposed. It is initiated by the homolysis of peroxide with the formation of НO^? radicals that are responsible for the homolytic opening of phosphoric tetrahedrons. Further oxidation and stages of the hydrolysis of intermediate phosphorus-containing compounds yield products of the reaction.     

A new method for the generation of stable phenoxyl radicals by the reaction of [(Me3Si)2N]2E (E = Ge,Sn) with sterically hindered phenols

An unusual reaction of diaminogermylene and diaminostannylene with sterically hindered phenols which leads to the formation of stable phenoxyl radicals in high concentrations was found. The reaction mechanism was proposed. Amides [(Me₃Si)₂N]₂E (E = Ge, Sn) were investigated electrochemically.     

New Approach to Determination of Phenoxyl Free Radicals by Stopped‐Flow Spectrofluorimetry

Abstract

A simple and highly sensitive method to quantify the rates of production of phenoxyl radicals in enzyme reaction is described. This method employs the peroxidase‐catalyzed reaction between chlorophenols and hydroperoxide to generate phenoxyl free radicals, which can enhance dimerization of L‐tyrosine. The product, dityrosine, was monitored fluorometrically at the excitation/emission wavelength of 320/410 nm and the initial rate of accelerated‐accumulation of dityrosine represents the formation rate of phenoxyl free radicals. With this method, the phenoxyl radicals generated in oxidation of chlorophenols with hydrogen peroxide, catalyzed by horseradish peroxidase, were investigated. Phenoxyl radicals generated from as low as 5.0×10^?9 M 2,4‐dichlorophenol, for example, can be readily detected with a relative standard deviation of 2.6% for 9 replicated determination. The detection limits of phenoxyl radicals produced by various chlorophenols are 4.2×10^?9, 1.1×10^?9, 1.0×10^?10, 2.8×10^?8, and 1.1×10^?7 M for 2‐chlorophenol, 4‐chlorophenol, 2,4‐dichlorophenol, 2,4,6‐trichlorophenol, and 2,3,4,6‐tetrachlorophenol, respectively. The possible pathway of the reaction is proposed. The protocol is suitable for quantification of free radicals in enzyme reaction and shows promise in being applied to biological systems.     

Organophosphorus antioxidants—VIII. Kinetics and mechanism of the reaction of organic phosphites with peroxyl radicals

Trialkyl phosphites react with cyanoisopropylperoxyl radicals, generated by thermolysis of azobis(isobutyronitrile) in the presence of oxygen, to give the corresponding phosphates with rate constants of the order of 10³ M⁻¹ sec⁻¹ at 65°C. Phenyl phosphites are oxidized also. A small amount of cyanoisopropyl phosphite is formed by substitution of the phosphite by alkyloxyl radicals leading to phenoxyl radicals. Sterically hindered aryl phosphites react with cyanoisopropylperoxyl radicals to yield the corresponding phosphates and alkoxyl radicals which in a second step react with phosphite by substitution releasing a sterically hindered phenoxyl radical. Therefore, sterically hindered phosphites are capable of acting as chain-terminating primary antioxidants. Because the rate constants of reaction of these phosphites with peroxyl radicals are only in the range of 10² M⁻¹ sec⁻¹ and 100 times smaller than those of phenols, phosphites should be less active as primary antioxidants than phenols.     

Catalytic Ethanolysis of Kraft Lignin into High‐Value Small‐Molecular Chemicals over a Nanostructured α‐Molybdenum Carbide Catalyst

We report the complete ethanolysis of Kraft lignin over an α‐MoC_1?x/AC catalyst in pure ethanol at 280 °C to give high‐value chemicals of low molecular weight with a maximum overall yield of the 25 most abundant liquid products (LP25) of 1.64 g per gram of lignin. The LP25 products consisted of C₆–C₁₀ esters, alcohols, arenes, phenols, and benzyl alcohols with an overall heating value of 36.5 MJ kg^?1. C₆ alcohols and C₈ esters predominated and accounted for 82 wt % of the LP25 products. No oligomers or char were formed in the process. With our catalyst, ethanol is the only effective solvent for the reaction. Supercritical ethanol on its own degrades Kraft lignin into a mixture of small molecules and molecular fragments of intermediate size with molecular weights in the range 700–1400, differing in steps of 58 units, which is the weight of the branched‐chain linkage C₃H₆O in lignin. Hydrogen was found to have a negative effect on the formation of the low‐molecular‐weight products.     

High-energy ionising radiation initiated decomposition of acetovanillone

Hydroxyl radical, hydrated electron and hydrogen atom intermediates of water radiolysis react with acetovanillone with rate coefficients of (1.05±0.1)×10¹⁰, (3.5±0.5)×10⁹ and (1.7±0.2)×10¹⁰mol^?1 dm³ s^?1. Hydroxyl radical and hydrogen atom attach to the ring forming cyclohexadienyl type radicals. The hydroxyl–cyclohexadienyl radical formed in hydroxyl radical reaction in dissolved oxygen free solution partly transforms to phenoxyl radical. In the presence of O₂ phenoxyl radical formation and ring destruction are observed. Hydrated electron in O₂ free solution attaches to the carbonyl oxygen and undergoes protonation yielding benzyl type radical. In air saturated 0.5 mmol dm^?3 solution using 15 kGy dose most part of acetovanillone is degraded, for complete mineralisation five times higher dose is required. The experiments clearly show that acetovanillone can be efficiently removed from water by applying irradiation technology.     

Spectral,kinetics, and redox properties of the transients formed on one‐electron oxidation of 4,4′‐thiodiphenol: A pulse radiolysis study

The transient absorption bands (λ_max = 330, 525 nm, k_f = 5 × 10⁹ dm³ mol⁻¹ s⁻¹) obtained on pulse radiolysis of N₂O‐saturated neutral aqueous solution of 4,4′‐thiodiphenol (TDPH) are due to the reaction of TDPH with ^·OH radicals and are assigned to phenoxyl radical formed on fast deprotonation of the solute radical cation. The reaction of specific one‐electron oxidants (Cl₂^·−, Br₂^·−, N₃^·, TI²⁺, CCl₃OO^·) with TDPH also produced similar transient absorption bands. The phenoxyl radicals are also produced on pulse radiolysis of N₂‐saturated solution of TDPH in 1,2‐dichloroethane. The nature of transient absorption spectrum obtained on reaction of ^·OH radicals with TDPH is not affected in acidic solutions, showing that OH‐adduct is not formed in neutral solutions. The oxidation potential for the formation of phenoxyl radical is determined to be 0.98 V. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 31: 603–610, 1999     

Leveraging the Persistent Radical Effect in the Synthesis of trans-2,3-Diaryl Dihydrobenzofurans**

A simple method for accessing trans-2,3-diaryl dihydrobenzofurans is reported. This approach leverages the equilibrium between quinone methide dimers and their persistent radicals. This equilibrium is disrupted by phenols that yield comparatively transient phenoxyl radicals, leading to cross-coupling between the persistent and transient radicals. The resultant quinone methides with pendant phenols rapidly cyclize to form dihydrobenzofurans (DHBs). This putative biomimetic access to dihydrobenzofurans provides superb functional group tolerance and a unified approach for the synthesis of resveratrol-based natural products.     

The catalytic ozonization of model lignin compounds in the presence of Fe(III) ions

The ozonization of several model lignin compounds (guaiacol, 2,6-dimethoxyphenol, phenol, and vanillin) was studied in acid media in the presence of iron(III) ions. It was found that Fe³⁺ did not influence the initial rate of the reactions between model phenols and ozone but accelerated the oxidation of intermediate ozonolysis products. The metal concentration dependences of the total ozone consumption and effective rate constants of catalytic reaction stages were determined. Data on reactions in the presence of oxalic acid as a competing chelate ligand showed that complex formation with Fe³⁺ was the principal factor that accelerated the ozonolysis of model phenols at the stage of the oxidation of carboxylic dibasic acids and C₂ aldehydes formed as intermediate products.     

Activation of Kraft Lignin by an Enzymatic Treatment with a Versatile Peroxidase from Bjerkandera sp. R1

Enzymatic lignin activation may be an environmentally friendly alternative to the use of chemicals in the production of wood fibers composites. Most studies on enzymatic activation of lignin for improving the adhesion of lignocellulosic products have been carried out using laccases. In this work, the use of a versatile peroxidase (VP) from the white-rot fungus Bjerkandera sp. (anamorph R1) for activating Kraft lignin was studied. The effect of enzyme dosage, incubation time, and H₂O₂ addition profile on lignin activation was evaluated by quantifying the phenoxy radicals formed using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. Two alternative enzymatic systems based on the use of VP (a two-stage and an enzymatic cascade system) were also assayed. At optimal conditions (dose of 15 U?g^?1 and continuous addition of H₂O₂ (5.24 μmol?h^?1) during 1 h) the content of phenoxy radicals was doubled as compared with an untreated control. Moreover, using the two-stage VP system, a lignin activation similar to that found at optimal conditions could be reached in a shorter time.     

Effect of solvation on the kinetic parameters of the reactions of phenoxyl radicals with phenols and semiquinone radicals with hydroquinones

Experimental rate constants of the reactions of semiquinone radicals with hydroquinones in chlorobenzene at ∼300 K are by almost an order of magnitude higher than the rate constants of the reactions of phenoxyl radicals with phenols, which are equivalent to the former ones by heat effects. To reveal differences in the rate constants of these groups of reactions, we performed quantum chemical calculations of the energy profiles of the reactions and dissociation energies by the B3LYP density functional theory using the GAMESS and GAUSSIAN-03 programs in the 6-31+G^* basis set. The solvation energies were calculated in all stationary points on the reaction coordinate by the method of polarized continuum model. In terms of the intersecting parabolas method, the reactions of semiquinone radicals with hydroquinones and phenoxyl radicals with phenols can be attributed to the same class of reactions only in the gas phase. In solvents this class of reactions is divided into two subclasses due to differences in solvation energies of the preliminary complexes and transition states of these reactions. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 9, pp. 1495–1501, September, 2006.     

Active sites,nature and mechanism of carbon dioxide—propylene oxide copolymerization and cyclization reactions employing organozinc—oxygen catalysts

Reaction of carbon dioxide with propylene oxide in the presence of catalysts with condensed zinc species (;derived from diethylzinc and dihydric phenols, e.g. catechol _o? C₆H₄(;OH)₂ and saligenin ₀? HOC₆H₄CH₂OH) yields poly(;propylene carbonate) as well as propylene carbonate. The above reaction in the presence of catalysts with noncondensed zinc species (;derived from diethylzinc and phenol) yields propylene carbonate as the main product, but in relatively low yield. The mechanism of the linear and cyclic carbonate formation is discussed in terms of the nature of the catalyst's active sites for both types.     

Free-radical abstraction reactions with concerted fragmentation and NO formation

The enthalpy and activation energy of reactions involving attack by MeO₂^? and MeO₂^? on CH₂ groups of 2-butyl nitrite and 2-nitrosobutane have been calculated by quantum chemical methods. The abstraction of a hydrogen atom is accompanied, in the former case, by concerted N–O bond breaking and, in the latter case, by concerted C–N bond breaking, resulting in NO? formation. On the basis of the results obtained, an algorithm has been developed within the intersecting parabolas model for calculating the enthalpies, activation energies, and rate constants of these types of reactions involving alkyl, alkoxyl, aminyl, peroxyl, phenoxyl, thiyl, and hydroxyl radicals.     

In situ electrochemical-ATR-FTIR spectroscopic studies on solution phase 2,4,6-tri-substituted phenoxyl radicals

2,4,6-Tri-tert-butylphenolate and 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methoxyphenolate (prepared by reacting the corresponding phenols with dry Et₄NOH) were oxidised by one-electron in CH₃CN at room temperature (with 0.2 M Bu₄NPF₆ as the supporting electrolyte) in a controlled potential electrolysis cell at negative potentials (−0.68 to −0.84 V vs. Fc/Fc⁺ (Fc=ferrocene)) to produce moderately stable phenoxyl radicals. The oxidation reaction was monitored using in situ FTIR spectroscopy between 1800–1000 cm⁻¹ with an attenuated total reflectance (ATR) probe containing a diamond composite sensor inserted into the working electrode compartment of the electrolysis cell. Analysis of the data obtained during the chemically reversible oxidation of the phenolate anions allowed the identification of several IR absorption bands that could be assigned to the phenoxyl radicals with notable bands observed at 1592–1573 cm⁻¹ and 1505–1509 cm⁻¹ that were assigned to the ν_8a(C_oC_m ring stretch) and ν_7a(C_a–O stretch) modes, respectively.     

Oxidative decomposition of pentachlorophenol in aqueous solution

OH-radical-induced dechlorination of pentachlorophenol (PCP) has been studies pulse and γ-radiolytically. OH radicals react with PCP by both electron transfer (53%) and addition followed by very rapid HCl-elimination to form phenoxyl radicals. The phenoxyl radicals decay to form products (e.g. chloranil) that unstable in alkaline aqueous solution and release some more Cl⁻, therefore G(Cl⁻) is high. Primary HPLC–MS analysis reveals that some quinones among the final products, whose toxicity remains unclear. Ozone can also oxidize PCP very rapidly, and this oxidation may destroy the benzene ring of PCP.     

Temperature dependence of the self-decay rate constants of some phenoxyl radicals in aqueous solution

The Arrhenius parameters of the bimolecular rate constants for the decay of several phenoxyl radicals in aqueous solution were measured. The p-halophenoxyl radicals (F, Cl, and Br) decay in a diffusion controlled reaction as the activation energies are the same as that of diffusion of water (16 ± 1.5 kJ · mol^?1). The A factors are 10^{12.2 ± 0.2}. For alkyl and alkoxy substituted phenoxyl, slightly higher activation energies were found (19.5 ? 21.9 kJ · mol^?1). © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.