Gas-phase fragmentation characteristics of benzyl-aminated lysyl-containing tryptic peptides

The fragmentation characteristics of peptides derivatized at the side-chain ε-amino group of lysyl residues via reductive amination with benzaldehyde have been examined using collision-induced dissociation (CID) tandem mass spectrometry. The resulting MS/MS spectra exhibit peaks representing product ions formed from two independent fragmentation pathways. One pathway results in backbone fragmentation and commonly observed sequence ion peaks. The other pathway corresponds to the unsymmetrical, heterolytic cleavage of the C_ζ-N_ε bond that links the benzyl derivative to the side-chain lysyl residue. This results in the elimination of the derivative as a benzylic or tropylium carbocation and a (n − l)⁺-charged peptide product (where n is the precursor ion charge state). The frequency of occurrence of the elimination pathway increases with increasing charge of the precursor ion. For the benzylmodified tryptic peptides analyzed in this study, peaks representing products from both of these pathways are observed in the MS/MS spectra of doubly-charged precursor ions, but the carbocation elimination pathway occurs almost exclusively for triply-charged precursor ions. The experimental evidence presented herein, combined with molecular orbital calculations, suggests that the elimination pathway is a charge-directed reaction contingent upon protonation of the secondary ε-amino group of the benzyl-derivatized lysyl side chain. If the secondary ε-amine is protonated, the elimination of the carbocation is observed. If the precursor is not protonated at the secondary ε-amine, backbone fragmentation persists. The application of appropriately substituted benzyl analogs may allow for selective control over the relative abundance of product ions generated from the two pathways.     

A Biomimetic Pathway for Vanadium‐Catalyzed Aerobic Oxidation of Alcohols: Evidence for a Base‐Assisted Dehydrogenation Mechanism

The first step in the catalytic oxidation of alcohols by molecular O₂, mediated by homogeneous vanadium(V) complexes [LV^V(O)(OR)], is ligand exchange. The unusual mechanism of the subsequent intramolecular oxidation of benzyl alcoholate ligands in the 8‐hydroxyquinolinato (HQ) complexes [(HQ)₂V^V(O)(OCH₂C₆H₄‐p‐X)] involves intermolecular deprotonation. In the presence of triethylamine, complex 3 (X=H) reacts within an hour at room temperature to generate, quantitatively, [(HQ)₂V^IV(O)], benzaldehyde (0.5 equivalents), and benzyl alcohol (0.5 equivalents). The base plays a key role in the reaction: in its absence, less than 12 % conversion was observed after 72 hours. The reaction is first order in both 3 and NEt₃, with activation parameters ΔH^≠=(28±4) kJ mol^?1 and ΔS^≠=(?169±4) J K^?1 mol^?1. A large kinetic isotope effect, 10.2±0.6, was observed when the benzylic hydrogen atoms were replaced by deuterium atoms. The effect of the para substituent of the benzyl alcoholate ligand on the reaction rate was investigated using a Hammett plot, which was constructed using σ_p. From the slope of the Hammett plot, ρ=+(1.34±0.18), a significant buildup of negative charge on the benzylic carbon atom in the transition state is inferred. These experimental findings, in combination with computational studies, support an unusual bimolecular pathway for the intramolecular redox reaction, in which the rate‐limiting step is deprotonation at the benzylic position. This mechanism, that is, base‐assisted dehydrogenation (BAD), represents a biomimetic pathway for transition‐metal‐mediated alcohol oxidations, differing from the previously identified hydride‐transfer and radical pathways. It suggests a new way to enhance the activity and selectivity of vanadium catalysts in a wide range of redox reactions, through control of the outer coordination sphere.     

Why is benzyl‐gem‐diacetate remarkably stable in aqueous solution?

Benzyl‐gem‐diacetate is synthesized and performed its solvolysis in water at 25°C. It did not solvolize even for a year, whereas its counterparts benzyl‐gem‐diazide and dihalides underwent spontaneous cleavage through a S_N1 mechanism in aqueous solution to give benzaldehydes as the final product through α‐azido benzyl and α‐halo benzyl carbocation intermediates, respectively. The possible explanations are offered for the extraordinary stability of the benzyl‐gem‐diacetate in water. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 41: 554–557, 2009     

Mechanistic Investigation of Molybdate‐Catalysed Transfer Hydrodeoxygenation

The molybdate‐catalysed transfer hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) of benzyl alcohol to toluene driven by oxidation of the solvent isopropyl alcohol to acetone has been investigated by using a combination of experimental and computational methods. A Hammett study that compared the relative rates for the transfer HDO of five para‐substituted benzylic alcohols was carried out. Density‐functional theory (DFT) calculations suggest a transition state with significant loss of aromaticity contributes to the lack of linearity observed in the Hammett study. The transfer HDO could also be carried out in neat PhCH₂OH at 175 °C. Under these conditions, PhCH₂OH underwent disproportionation to yield benzaldehyde, toluene, and significant amounts of bibenzyl. Isotopic‐labelling experiments (using PhCH₂OD and PhCD₂OH) showed that incorporation of deuterium into the resultant toluene originated from the α position of benzyl alcohol, which is in line with the mechanism suggested by the DFT study.     

Gas‐phase fragmentations of N‐methylimidazolidin‐4‐one organocatalysts

N‐methylimidazolidin‐4‐one organocatalysts were studied in the gas phase. Protonated and sodium‐cationized (sodiated) molecules are conveniently accessible by electrospray mass spectrometry. Protonation enables three different closed‐shell paths of ring cleavage leading to iminium ions. The fragmentation pattern is largely unaffected by exocyclic substituents and thus is valuable to characterize the substance type as N‐methylimidazolidin‐4‐ones. Sodiated species show a distinctly different fragmentation that is less useful for characterization purposes: apart from signal loss due to dissociation of Na⁺, the observation of benzyl radical loss is by far predominant. Only in absence of a benzyl substituent, an analogue of the third ring cleavage (loss of [C₂H₅NO]) is observed. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Experimental and Theoretical Conformational Analysis of 5‐Benzylimidazolidin‐4‐one Derivatives – a ‘Playground’ for Studying Dispersion Interactions and a ‘Windshield‐Wiper’ Effect in Organocatalysis

The PF₆ salts of 5‐benzyl‐1‐isopropylidene‐ and 5‐benzyl‐1‐cinnamylidene‐3‐methylimidazolidin‐4‐ones 1 (Scheme) with various substituents in the 2‐position have been prepared, and single crystals suitable for X‐ray structure determination have been obtained of 14 such compounds, i.e., 2 – 10 and 12 – 16 (Figs. 2–5). In nine of the structures, the Ph ring of the benzyl group resides above the heterocycle, in contact with the cis‐substituent at C(2) (staggered conformation A ; Figs. 1–3); in three structures, the Ph ring lies above the iminium π‐plane (staggered conformation B ; Figs. 1 and 4); in two structures, the benzylic C? C bond has an eclipsing conformation ( C ; Figs. 1 and 5) which places the Ph ring simultaneously at a maximum distance with its neighbors, the CO group, the N?C‐π‐system, and the cis‐substituent at C(2) of the heterocycle. It is suggested by a qualitative conformational analysis (Fig. 6) that the three staggered conformations of the benzylic C? C bond are all subject to unfavorable steric interactions, so that the eclipsing conformation may be a kind of ‘escape’. State‐of‐the‐art quantum‐chemical methods, with large AO basic sets (near the limit) for the single‐point calculations, were used to compute the structures of seven of the 14 iminium ions, i.e., 3, 4 / 12, 5 – 7, 13 , and 16 (Table) in the two staggered conformations, A and B , with the benzylic Ph group above the ring and above the iminium π‐system, respectively. In all cases, the more stable computed conformer (‘isolated‐molecule’ structure) corresponds to the one present in the crystal (overlay in Fig. 7). The energy differences are small (≤2 kcal/mol) which, together with the result of a potential‐curve calculation for the rotation around the benzylic C? C bond of one of the structures, 16 (Fig. 8), suggests that the benzyl group is more or less freely rotating at ambident temperatures. The importance of intramolecular London dispersion (benzene ring in ‘contact’ with the cis‐substituent in conformation A ) for DFT and other quantum‐chemical computations is demonstrated; the benzyl‐imidazolidinones 1 appear to be ideal systems for detecting dispersion contributions between a benzene ring and alkyl or aryl CH groups. Enylidene ions of the type studied herein are the reactive intermediates of enantioselective organocatalytic conjugate additions, Diels–Alder reactions, and many other transformations involving α,β‐unsaturated carbonyl compounds. Our experimental and theoretical results are discussed in view of the performance of 5‐benzyl‐imidazolidinones as enantioselective catalysts.     

Substituent Effects on Oxidation‐Induced Formation of Quinone Methides from Arylboronic Ester Precursors

A series of arylboronic esters containing different aromatic substituents and various benzylic leaving groups (Br or N⁺Me₃Br^?) have been synthesized. The substituent effects on their reactivity with H₂O₂ and formation of quinone methide (QM) have been investigated. NMR spectroscopy and ethyl vinyl ether (EVE) trapping experiments were used to determine the reaction mechanism and QM formation, respectively. QMs were not generated during oxidative cleavage of the boronic esters but by subsequent transformation of the phenol products under physiological conditions. The oxidative deboronation is facilitated by electron‐withdrawing substituents, such as aromatic F, NO₂, or benzylic N⁺Me₃Br^?, whereas electron‐donating substituents or a better leaving group favor QM generation. Compounds containing an aromatic CH₃ or OMe group, or a good leaving group (Br), efficiently generate QMs under physiological conditions. Finally, a quantitative relationship between the structure and activity has been established for the arylboronic esters by using a Hammett plot. The reactivity of the arylboronic acids/esters and the inhibition or facilitation of QM formation can now be predictably adjusted. This adjustment is important as some applications may benefit and others may be limited by QM generation.     

Electron ionization mass spectra and tautomerism of substituted 2‐phenacylquinolines

Tautomerism has been studied conventionally in solutions or in the solid state. However, the importance of mass spectrometry in the gas phase was realized relatively late. 2‐Phenacylquinolines are known to undergo ketimine‐enaminone tautomerism. The ratio of tautomers is dependent on the nature of the phenyl ring substituent and the Hammett substituent constants σ. Theoretical calculations indicate the presence of ketimine and enaminone tautomers in the gas phase. The electron ionization mass spectra of eight 2‐phenacylquinolines (ketimine form) were recorded at 70 eV in order to determine the fragmentation routes and to screen for the presence of their enaminone tautomers, (Z)‐2‐benzoylmethylene‐1,2‐dihydroquinolines, in the gas phase. The relative abundances or total ion currents of some ions correlated with the Hammett substituent constants and Hammett‐Brown constants. The product ions [M–CO]^{+ .} and [M–HCO]⁺ were observed. A reaction mechanism is suggested for the formation of these ions, requiring skeletal rearrangements. The results furnish information relating to tautomerism in the gas phase. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Reaction of 4‐benzylidene‐2‐methyl‐5‐oxazolone with amines,Part 2: Influence of substituents in para‐position in the phenyl ring and a substituent on amine nitrogen atom on the reaction kinetics

An influence of a structure of the amine (benzylamine, N‐methyl‐benzylamine, N‐isopropyl‐benzylamine, N‐methyl‐butylamine, N‐ethyl‐butylamine, sec‐butylamine, and tert‐butylamine) on a rate constant of the ring‐opening reaction of 4‐benzylidene‐2‐methyl‐5‐oxazolone (Ox) was studied. The good correlation between logarithm of the rate constants and Charton's steric substituent constant ν as well as good correlation with a form of the simple branching equation indicate that there is a steric effect because of substitution at C1 carbon atom of nucleophile which decreases the reaction rate. Additionally, an influence of a structure of the benzylidene moiety of Ox on a rate of the oxazolone ring‐opening reaction was studied. The substituents (? OH, ? OCH₃, ? N(CH₃)₂, ? Cl, ? NO₂) in para‐position of the phenyl ring of Ox substantially modified the rate of the reaction with benzylamine in acetonitrile. The rate of the Ox ring‐opening reaction decreased with increase of the electron‐donating properties of the substituent. A good correlation between the rate constants of the reaction of 4‐(4′‐substituted‐benzylidene)‐2‐methyl‐5‐oxazolones with benzylamine and the electron density at the reaction center (carbon C5 of the oxazolone ring), calculated using ab initio method, and the Hammett substituent constants, and CR equation were established. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 34: 148–155, 2002; DOI 10.1002/kin.10039     

Reversal of the Stereochemical Course of 1‐Methyl‐1H‐indole Addition to Cinnamaldehyde with cis‐5‐Benzyl‐(2‐fluoromethyl)‐2,3‐dimethylimidazolidin‐4‐ones as Catalysts – a Puzzling ‘Fluorine Effect’

Replacement of the cis‐Me group by CH₂F in the imidazolidinone organocatalyst specified in the title (so‐called McMillan generation‐I catalyst) leads to reversal of the product configuration in the title reaction. The topicity reversal in the nucleophilic addition step must arise either from cis‐addition with respect to the benzylic substituent of an (E)‐iminium ion intermediate or from trans‐addition to the corresponding (Z)‐iminium ion. Mechanistic investigations have not provided evidence for either one of these two possibilities, so far.     

(±)‐6‐Benzyl‐3,3‐di­methyl­morpholine‐2,5‐dione and its 5‐mono­thio and 2,5‐di­thio derivatives

The morpholine ring of the title dione, C₁₃H₁₅NO₃, shows a boat conformation that is distorted towards a twist‐boat, with the boat ends being the two Csp³ atoms of the ring. The benzyl substituent is in the favoured `exo' position. In the mono­thione derivative, (±)‐6‐benzyl‐3,3‐di­methyl‐5‐thioxo­morpholin‐2‐one, C<sub>13</sub>H<sub>15</sub>NO<sub>2</sub>S, this ring has a much flatter conformation that is midway between a boat and an envelope, with the di­methyl end being almost planar. The orientation of the benzyl group is `endo'. The di­thione derivative, (±)‐6‐benzyl‐3,3‐di­methyl­morpholine‐2,5‐di­thione, C₁₃H₁₅N­OS₂, has two symmetry‐independent mol­ecules, which show different puckering of the morpholine ring. One mol­ecule has a flattened envelope conformation distorted towards a screw‐boat, while the conformation in the other mol­ecule is similar to that in the mono­thione derivative. Intermolecular hydrogen bonds link the mol­ecules in the three compounds, respectively, into centrosymmetric dimers, infinite chains, and dimers made up of one of each of the symmetry‐independent mol­ecules.     

Structure–Reactivity Relationships in Negishi Cross‐Coupling Reactions

Competition experiments have been performed to determine the relative reactivities of substituted bromobenzenes and of different arylzinc reagents in the [Pd(PPh₃)₄]‐catalyzed Negishi cross‐coupling reaction in THF at 25 °C. The cross‐coupling reactions are accelerated by electron acceptors in the bromobenzenes, the effect of which increases in the order ortho <meta <para. On the other hand, electron acceptors in the arylzinc halides diminish the reaction rates. Hammett correlations show that substituent variations in the bromobenzenes (ρ=+2.5) have a larger effect than substituent variations in the arylzinc halides (ρ=?0.98).     

Gold‐catalyzed Reactions of 3‐Alkynyloxireno[2, 3‐b]chromenones to Form 3(2H)‐Furanones via a Domino Pathway

3(2H)‐Furanones are efficiently generated from 3‐alkynyl oxireno[2,3‐b]chromenones by an Au/DDQ‐catalyzed domino reaction through a pathway composed of cyclization, C? C cleavage, nucleophilic addition, oxidation, and nucleophilic addition. It was found that stoichiometric AuCl₃ or catalytic Au with stoichiometric DDQ can oxidize the benzylic sp³ C? H bond to facilitate nucleophilic addition.     

Competitive benzyl cation transfer and proton transfer: collision‐induced mass spectrometric fragmentation of protonated N,N‐dibenzylaniline

Collision‐induced dissociation of protonated N ,N ‐dibenzylaniline was investigated by electrospray tandem mass spectrometry. Various fragmentation pathways were dominated by benzyl cation and proton transfer. Benzyl cation transfers from the initial site (nitrogen) to benzylic phenyl or aniline phenyl ring. The benzyl cations transfer to the two different sites, and both result in the benzene loss combined with 1,3‐H shift. In addition, after the benzyl cation transfers to the benzylic phenyl ring, 1,2‐H shift and 1,4‐H shift proceed competitively to trigger the diphenylmethane loss and aniline loss, respectively. Deuterium labeling experiments, substituent labeling experiments and density functional theory calculations were performed to support the proposed benzyl cation and proton transfer mechanism. Overall, this study enriches the knowledge of fragmentation mechanisms of protonated N ‐benzyl compounds. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Correlation of substituted aromatic β‐diketones' characteristic protons chemical shifts with Hammett substituent constants

Influence of dibenzoylmethane's substituents in meta and para positions on chemical shift values of tautomers' characteristic protons was investigated in four solvents with ¹H NMR spectroscopy: acetone‐d₆, benzene‐d₆, CDCl₃ and deuterated dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO‐d₆). It was proved that the influence of substituents on chemical shifts strongly depends on the kind of the solvent; the greatest changes were observed in benzene‐d₆ and the smallest in CDCl₃. In acetone‐d₆ and DMSO‐d₆, the influence of substituents on chemical shifts is similar and the most regular. It allowed a fair correlation of chemical shifts of para‐substituted dibenzoylmethane derivatives' characteristic protons with Hammett substituent constants in these solvents. In CDCl₃, characteristic protons' chemical shifts were near ¹H NMR spectroscopy measurement error limits, and, therefore, correlation with Hammett substituent constants in this solvent was unsatisfactory. In benzene, although the changes of chemical shifts are the most evident, the changes are also the most irregular, and, therefore, correlation in this solvent failed completely. Results of meta‐substituted derivatives were much more irregular, and their correlation with Hammett substituent constants was poor in all investigated solvents. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Asymmetric [2,3]‐Wittig Rearrangement of Oxygenated Allyl Benzyl Ethers in the Presence of a Chiral di‐tBu‐bis(oxazoline) Ligand: A Novel Synthetic Approach to THF Lignans

We have accomplished highly enantioselective [2,3]‐Wittig rearrangements of functionalized allyl benzyl ethers in the presence of a chiral di‐tBu‐bis(oxazoline) ligand. In various oxygenated benzylic ethers, the reactions proceeded with excellent diastereo‐ and enantioselectivities, although the presence of a methoxy substituent at the ortho‐position on the benzyl group drastically decreased the enantioselectivity. Conversely, o‐ethyl and o‐phenyl substituents had no significant effect on the selectivity. We found that the C2‐substituent of the allylic moiety played an important role in producing high enantioselectivity. Highly enantioselective [2,3]‐Wittig rearrangement in the presence of catalytic amounts of the chiral ligands is also described.     

2–Butoxyethanol and benzyl alcohol reactions with the nitrate radical: Rate coefficients and gas‐phase products

The bimolecular rate coefficients k and k were measured using the relative rate technique at (297 ± 3) K and 1 atmosphere total pressure. Values of (2.7 ± 0.7) and (4.0 ± 1.0) × 10^?15 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 were observed for k and k, respectively. In addition, the products of 2‐butoxyethanol + NO₃^? and benzyl alcohol + NO₃^? gas‐phase reactions were investigated. Derivatizing agents O‐(2,3,4,5,6‐pentafluorobenzyl)hydroxylamine and N, O‐bis (trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide and gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC/MS) were used to identify the reaction products. For 2‐butoxyethanol + NO₃^? reaction: hydroxyacetaldehyde, 3‐hydroxypropanal, 4‐hydroxybutanal, butoxyacetaldehyde, and 4‐(2‐oxoethoxy)butan‐2‐yl nitrate were the derivatized products observed. For the benzyl alcohol + NO₃^? reaction: benzaldehyde ((C₆H₅)C(?O)H) was the only derivatized product observed. Negative chemical ionization was used to identify the following nitrate products: [(2‐butoxyethoxy)(oxido)amino]oxidanide and benzyl nitrate, for 2‐butoxyethanol + NO₃^? and benzyl alcohol + NO₃^?, respectively. The elucidation of these products was facilitated by mass spectrometry of the derivatized reaction products coupled with a plausible 2‐butoxyethanol or benzyl alcohol + NO₃^? reaction mechanisms based on previously published volatile organic compound + NO₃^? gas‐phase mechanisms. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

1 This article is a U.S. Government work and, as such, is in the public domain of the United States of America.

© 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 44: 778–788, 2012     

Orientational Preference of Long,Multicenter Bonds in Radical Anion Dimers: A Case Study of π‐[TCNB]22− and π‐[TCNP]22−

The similar shape and electronic structure of the radical anions of 1,2,4,5‐tetracyanopyrazine (TCNP) and 1,2,4,5‐tetracyanobenzene (TCNB) suggest a similar relative orientation for their long, multicenter carbon?carbon bond in π‐[TCNP]₂^2? and in π‐[TCNB]₂^2?, in good accord with the Maximin Principle predictions. Instead, the two known structures of π‐[TCNP]₂^2? have a D_2h(θ=0°) and a C₂(θ=30°) orientation (θ being the dihedral angle that determines the rotation of one radical anion relative to the other along the axis that passes through center of the two six‐membered rings). The only known π‐[TCNB]₂^2? structure has a C₂(θ=60°) orientation. The origin of these preferences was investigated for both dimers by computing (at the RASPT2/RASSCF(30,28) level) the variation with θ of the interaction energy (E_int) and the variation of the E_int components. It was found that: 1) a long, multicenter bond exists for all orientations; 2) the E_int(θ) angular dependence is similar in both dimers; 3) for all orientations the electrostatic component dominates the value of E_int(θ), although the dispersion and bonding components also play a relevant role; and 4) the Maximin Principle curve reproduces well the shape of the E_int(θ) curve for isolated dimers, although none of them reproduce the experimental preferences. Only after the (radical anion)^.? ??? cation⁺ interactions are also included in the model aggregate are the experimental data reproduced computationally.     

Azo‐Coupling Reactions of Para‐X‐Benzenediazonium Cations with 3‐Ethoxythiophene in Acetonitrile

Kinetic studies for the azo‐coupling reactions of 3‐ethoxythiophene 1 with a series of 4‐X‐substituted diazonium cations 2a‐e (X = OCH₃, CH₃, H, Cl, and NO₂) have been investigated in acetonitrile at 20°C. The second‐order rate constants have been employed to determine the nucleophilicity parameters N and s of the thiophene 1 according the Mayr equation. Thus, the nucleophile‐specific parameters N and s of thiophene 1 have been derived and compared with the reactivities of other C‐nucleophiles in acetonitrile (pyrroles, furan, indoles, etc.). The Yukawa–Tsuno plot resulted in an excellent correlation (R² = 0.9980) with an r value of 0.89, suggesting that the nonlinear Hammett plot observed in the present work is due to resonance demand of the π–electron donor substituent of on the –N₂⁺ moiety. Importantly, using the concept of global electrophilicity (ω) proposed by Parr, we successfully predict the electrophilicity parameters E of seven substituted diazonium cations whose experimental data are available.     

Mechanism and kinetics of the imidazolidinone nitroxide‐mediated free‐radical polymerization of styrene

Styrene radical polymerizations mediated by the imidazolidinone nitroxides 2,5‐bis(spirocyclohexyl)‐3‐methylimidazolidin‐4‐one‐1‐oxyl (NO88Me) and 2,5‐bis(spirocyclohexyl)‐3‐benzylimidazolidin‐4‐one‐1‐oxyl (NO88Bn) were investigated. Polymeric alkoxyamine (PS‐NO88Bn)‐initiated systems exhibited controlled/living characteristics at 100–120 °C but not at 80 °C. All systems exhibited rates of polymerization similar to those of thermal polymerization, with the exception of the PS‐NO88Bn system at 80 °C, which polymerized twice as quickly. The dissociation rate constants (k_d) for the PS‐NO88Me and PS‐NO88Bn coupling products were determined by electron spin resonance at 50–100 °C. The equilibrium constants were estimated to be 9.01 × 10^?11 and 6.47 × 10^?11 mol L^?1 at 120 °C for NO88Me and NO88Bn, respectively, resulting in the combination rate constants (k_c) 2.77 × 10⁶ (NO88Me) and 2.07 × 10⁶ L mol^?1 s^?1 (NO88Bn). The similar polymerization results and kinetic parameters for NO88Me and NO88Bn indicated the absence of any 3‐N‐transannular effect by the benzyl substituent relative to the methyl substituent. The values of k_d and k_c were 4–8 and 25–33 times lower, respectively, than the reported values for PS‐TEMPO at 120 °C, indicating that the 2,5‐spirodicyclohexyl rings have a more profound effect on the combination reaction rather than the dissociation reaction. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 327–334, 2003