Mechanism of stable radical generation in aromatic polyamides on exposure to nitrogen dioxide

By using the example of poly-m-phenylene isophthalamide, the mechanism of generation of stable nitrogen-containing radicals in aromatic polyamides in the presence of nitrogen dioxide is considered. The proposed mechanism is based on the reactions of dimers of nitrogen dioxide in the form of nitrosyl nitrate. As a result of a primary reaction of electron transfer from donor functional groups of macromolecules to nitrosyl nitrate, macromolecular radical cations and nitric oxide are formed. Amide groups and phenyl rings can act as electron donors. In the subsequent reactions with participation of radical cations, nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide oximes, nitroso compounds and nitrites are formed. Generation of stable iminoxyl radicals occurs by reactions of oximes with nitrogen dioxide. Thermolysis of the polymer nitration products gives iminoxyl and acylarylaminoxyl radicals. The structure of iminoxyl radicals and features of dynamics of their formation have been confirmed by ab initio quantum-chemical calculations.     

Enzymatic mechanisms of biological magnetic sensitivity: nuclear spin effects

Intracellular enzymatic reactions involving ion-radical states are shown to act as a universal mechanism of magnetically sensitive living organisms. Weak magnetic fields can affect the rate of intracellular enzymatic reactions. The main magnetically sensitive stage is the singlet-triplet conversion of ion-radical pairs in the active sites of enzymes induced by Zeeman and hyperfine interactions of electron and nuclear spins. The participation of a nuclear spin in the ion-radical process results in a strong dependence of the enzymatic reaction rate in weak magnetic fields comparable with the magnetic field of the Earth.     

Interaction of polypyromellitimide with nitrogen dioxide

The mechanism of interaction of nitrogen dioxide with aromatic polyimides is considered by the example of polypyromellitimide. The formation of stable radicals of acylarylaminoxyl, iminoxyl and phenoxyl types has been detected by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. Acylarylaminoxyl radicals were detected in polypyromellitimide after its exposure to nitrogen dioxide at room temperature followed by pumping nitrogen dioxide from the samples. Iminoxyl and phenoxyl radicals were formed during thermolysis of the nitration products of the polymer at 373 K. The proposed mechanism is based on the reaction of dimers of nitrogen dioxide in the form of nitrosyl nitrate. It was observed that intermediate radical cations and nitric oxide were formed in the primary reaction of electron transfer from the polyimide to nitrosyl nitrate. The subsequent cage reactions with participation of radical cations and nitric oxide give nitroso compounds and nitrates which are precursors of stable nitrogen-containing and phenoxyl radicals.     

Aminoxyl radicals as crosslinks for macromolecules of polyvinylpyrrolidone

Using polyvinylpyrrolidone as an example, it has been shown that photolysis of ceric ammonium nitrate at room temperature can result in crosslinking of macromolecules. This process correlates with the formation of stable aminoxyl radicals, which are registered by EPR. The mechanism involves photodissociation of nitrate radicals produced in the primary reaction into nitric oxide or nitrogen dioxide depending on the wavelength of the light, and simultaneous formation of macroradicals. The accumulation of aminoxyl radicals occurs owing to the acceptance of macroradicals by nitroso or nitro groups according to which mechanism of the nitrate radical photodissociation prevails. Similar radical reactions are observed in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone.     

Nitration of alkanes with nitric acid by vanadium-substituted polyoxometalates

The nitration of alkanes by using nitric acid as a nitrating agent in acetic acid was efficiently promoted by vanadium-substituted Keggin-type phosphomolybdates such as [H4PVMo11O40], [H5PV2Mo10O40], and [H6PV3Mo9O40] as catalyst precursors. A variety of alkanes including alkylbenzenes were nitrated to the corresponding nitroalkanes as major products in moderate yields with formation of oxygenated products under mild reaction conditions. The carbon--carbon bond cleavage reactions hardly proceeded. ESR, NMR, and IR spectroscopic data show that the vanadium-substituted polyoxometalate, for example, [H4PVMo11O40], decomposes to form free vanadium species and [PMo12O40](3-) Keggin anion. The reaction mechanism involving a radical-chain path is proposed. The polyoxometalates initially abstract the hydrogen of the alkane to form the alkyl radical and the reduced polyoxometalates. The reduced polyoxometalates subsequently react with nitric acid to produce the oxidized form and nitrogen dioxide. This step would be promoted mainly by the phosphomolybdates, [PMo12O40](n-), and the vanadium cations efficiently enhance the activity. The nitrogen dioxide promotes the further formation of nitrogen dioxide and an alkyl radical. The alkyl radical is trapped by nitrogen dioxide to form the corresponding nitroalkane.     

Gas phase reaction of nitrogen dioxide with trimethyl- and triethylsilane

The reactions between nitrogen dioxide and trimethyl- and triethylsilane have been studied. Under certain conditions ignition can occur. The main features of the reacting system are discussed and a reaction mechanism is proposed.     

Reactions of nitrile oxides with nitrogen oxides. 2. Reactions with nitrogen monoxide and nitrogen sesquioxide

We have studied the reactions of aromatic nitrile oxides with nitrogen monoxide and nitrogen sesquioxide. It was shown that nitrogen monoxide removes an oxygen atom from the nitrile oxide with formation of the corresponding nitrile and nitrogen dioxide. The reaction products with nitrogen sesquioxide are formed as a result of reactions of the nitrile oxide with nitrogen monoxide and nitrogen tetroxide.For previous communication, see [1].Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 7, pp. 1623–1625, July, 1990.     

Products of the reaction of hydroxyl radicals with trans-2-butene in the presence of oxygen and nitrogen dioxide

The reactions of hydroxy-substituted alkyl radicals, formed as secondary products in the reaction of ozone with trans-2-butene, have been identified in photoionization mass spectrometry studies, using acetaldehyde and nitrogen dioxide as free-radical scavengers. Products derived from 2-hydroxy-1-methylpropl in the absence of scavengers include 2,3-butanedione (diacetyl), 3-hydroxy-2-butanone (acetoin),and 2,3-butanediol. In the presence of added acetaldehyde or nitrogen dioxide, the formation of these products is suppressed. In addition, with added nitrogen dioxide, new products are formed which have been identified as a series of oxoalkyl and hydroxy-substituted-alkyl nitrates and peroxynitrates. These observations may have an important bearing on the chemistry of photochemical smog.     

Polyfluoroalkylation of pyrrole with 1,2-dibromotetrafluoroethane activated by sulfur dioxide

A possibility of the homogeneous catalytic fluoroalkylation of pyrrole with Freon BrCF₂CF₂Br using a nitrous base—sulfur dioxide system was shown. The influence of pK _a of bases on the occurrence of these processes was studied. The ion-radical mechanism of the processes was substantiated.     

Dissociation rates of urea in the presence of NiOOH catalyst: a DFT analysis

Single molecule reactions have been studied between nickel oxyhydroxide, urea, and the hydroxide ion to understand the process of urea dissociation into ammonia, isocyanic acid, cyanate ion, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen. In the absence of hydroxide ions, nickel oxyhydroxide will catalyze urea to form ammonia and isocyanic acid with the rate-limiting step being the formation of ammonia with a rate constant of 1.5 × 10?? s?1. In the presence of hydroxide, the evolution of ammonia was also the rate-limiting step with a rate constant of 1.4 × 10?2? s?1. In addition, desorption of the cyanate ion presented an energy barrier of 6190 kJ mol?1 suggesting that the cyanate ion cannot be separated from NiOOH unless further reactions occurred. Finally, elementary dissociation reactions with hydroxide ions deprotonating urea to produce nitrogen and carbon dioxide were analyzed. These elementary reactions were investigated along three paths differing in the order that protons were removed and the nitrogen atoms were rotated. The rate-limiting step was found to be the removal of carbon dioxide with a rate constant of 4.3 × 10??? s?1. Therefore, the catalyst could be deactivated by the surface blockage caused by carbon dioxide adsorption.     

Plasma Chemical Reactor with Exploding Water Jet

Exploding water jet discharge simultaneously generating powerful UV radiation, non-thermal plasma, and aerosol of fine water droplets has potential applications for removal of chemical and biological pollutants from air and water streams. A model plasma chemical reactor based on the exploding water jet discharge is considered. The radiation properties of the discharge, reactions of nitrogen oxide and hydrogen peroxide formation, and reactions of carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide decomposition are studied experimentally.     

Carbon Dioxide Measurements with and without Barium Peroxide in Electrolytic Studies with and without a Supporting Electrolyte

Abstract

This research deals with the quantitative formation of carbon dioxide in electrolytic oxidation reactions. The electrolytic reactions were run with barium peroxide to generate the superoxide anion at the anode. With the organic compounds used in these electrolytic studies we needed to develop a method where we could determine the amount of carbon dioxide liberated from these compounds with the superoxide anion. This method degasses an acidified solution with dry nitrogen, which carries the carbon dioxide to a standard solution of sodium hydroxide. Titration of the sodium hydroxide solution with standardized hydrochloric acid revealed the amount of carbon dioxide formed in the reaction after precipitation of the carbonate ions with barium chloride. Blank runs with the apparatus using anhydrous sodium carbonate produced 99% plus results of recovered carbon dioxide from the sodium carbonate.     

Corrosion and adsorption properties of electrochemical manganese dioxide in the acidic and weakly alkaline sulfate solutions

Corrosion and adsorption properties of manganese dioxide, which was anodically deposited on platinum, its powder, and compacted tablets of manganese dioxide in the solutions with various pH values are studied using various experimental methods. It is shown that the corrosion rate of manganese dioxide decreases with increasing pH of solution, and the process proceeds by the electrochemical mechanism with conjugate chemical reactions of the formation and decomposition of the product of transition stage. The adsorption properties of manganese dioxide powder with respect to copper ions increase with increasing pH of solution, whereas the amount of manganese ions passing to the solution almost vanishes at pH 9.     

Combination of nitrogen dioxide radicals with 8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanine and guanine radicals in DNA: oxidation and nitration end-products

The oxidation and nitration reactions in DNA associated with the combination of nitrogen dioxide radicals with 8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanine (8-oxoGua) and guanine radicals were explored by kinetic laser spectroscopy and mass spectrometry methods. The oxidation/nitration processes were triggered by photoexcitation of 2-aminopurine (2AP) residues site-specifically positioned in the 2'-deoxyribooligonucleotide 5'-d(CC[2AP]TC[X]CTACC) sequences (X = 8-oxoGua or G), by intense 308 nm excimer laser pulses. The photoionization products, 2AP radicals, rapidly oxidize either 8-oxoGua or G residues positioned within the same oligonucleotide but separated by a TC dinucleotide step on the 3'-side of 2AP. The two-photon ionization of the 2AP residue also generates hydrated electrons that are trapped by nitrate anions thus forming nitrogen dioxide radicals. The combination of nitrogen dioxide radicals with the 8-oxoGua and G radicals occurs with similar rate constants (approximately 4.3 x 10(8) M(-1) s(-1)) in both single- and double-stranded DNA. In the case of 8-oxoGua, the major end-products of this bimolecular radical-radical addition are spiroiminodihydantoin lesions, the products of 8-oxoGua oxidation. Oxygen-18 isotope labeling experiments reveal that the O-atom in the spiroiminodihydantoin lesion originates from water molecules, not from nitrogen dioxide radicals. In contrast, combination of nitrogen dioxide and guanine neutral radicals generated under the same conditions results in the formation of the nitro products, 5-guanidino-4-nitroimidazole and 8-nitroguanine adducts. The mechanistic aspects of the oxidation/nitration processes and their biological implications are discussed.     

Dye-sensitized photooxygenation of the C=N bond. 5. substituent effects on the cleavage of the C=N bond of C-aryl-N-aryl-N-methylhydrazones

The title compounds are cleaved cleanly at the C=N bond by singlet oxygen ((1)O(2), (1)Delta(g)) yielding arylaldehydes and N-aryl-N-methylnitrosamines. These reactions take place more rapidly at -78 degrees C than at room temperature. The effects of substituent variation at both the C-aryl and N-aryl groups were studied using a competitive method. Good correlations of the resulting rate ratios with substituent constants (sigma(-) or sigma(+)) were obtained yielding small to very small rho values indicative of small to very small changes in charge distribution between the reactant and the rate determining transition state. Electron withdrawing groups on the C-aryl moiety retard reaction somewhat by preferential stabilization of the hydrazone. Electron donors on the other hand slightly stabilize the rate determining transition state. Substituents on the N-aryl group have almost no effect. Inhibition by 3,5-di-tert-butylphenol was not observed showing that free (uncaged) radical intermediates are not involved in the mechanism. We postulate a mechanism in which the initial event is exothermic electron transfer from the hydrazone to (1)O(2) leading to an ion-radical caged pair. Subsequent covalent bond formation between the hydrazone carbon and an oxygen atom is rate controlling. The transition state for this step also has a lower enthalpy than the starting reactants, but the free energy of activation is dominated by a large negative TDeltaS++term leading to the negative temperature dependence. Direct formation of a C-O bond in the initial step is not unambiguously ruled out. Subsequent steps lead to C-N cleavage.     

Dynamic interplay between diffusion and reaction: nitrogen recombination on Rh{211} in car exhaust catalysis

The adsorption and diffusion of atomic nitrogen on Rh{211} as well as formation and desorption of molecular nitrogen from this surface have been investigated by means of density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The elementary step reaction mechanism derived from this comprehensive DFT study forms the foundation of a detailed microkinetic model including diffusion, recombination, and desorption of nitrogen species. It will be shown that nitrogen formation on a stepped rhodium surface is a dynamic interplay of atomic nitrogen diffusion and reaction. Moreover, evidence will be presented that not one but several on-step recombination reactions are responsible for dinitrogen formation and desorption.     

Copper-catalyzed tyrosine nitration

Tyrosine nitration, often observed during neurodegenerative disorders under nitrative stress, is usually considered to be induced chemically either by nitric oxide and oxygen forming nitrogen dioxide or by the decomposition of peroxynitrite. It can also be induced enzymatically by peroxidases or superoxide dismutases in the presence of both hydrogen peroxide and nitrite forming nitrogen dioxide and/or peroxynitrite. In this study, the role of cupric ions for catalyzing tyrosine nitration in the presence of hydrogen peroxide and nitrite, by a chemical mechanism rather similar to enzymatic pathways where nitrite is oxidized to form nitrogen dioxide, was investigated by development of a microreactor also capable of acting as an emitter for electrospray ionization mass spectrometry analysis. Indeed, cupric ions and peptide-cupric ion complexes are found to be excellent Fenton catalysts, even better than Fe(III) or heme, for the formation of (?)OH radicals and/or copper(II)-bound (?)OH radicals from hydrogen peroxide. These radicals are efficiently scavenged by nitrite anions to form (?)NO(2) and by tyrosine to form tyrosine radicals, leading to tyrosine nitration in polypeptides. We also show that cupric ions can catalyze tyrosine nitration from nitric oxide, oxygen, and hydrogen peroxide as the formation of tyrosine radicals is increased in the presence of diffusible and/or copper(II) bound hydroxyl radicals. This study shows that copper has a polyvalent role in the processes of tyrosine nitration.     

Laser photolysis studies of the photoinduced production of ion radicals in polymers

N₂-laser flash photolysis measurements of poly (N-vinylcarbazole) (PVCz) and N-isopropylcarbazole (NIPC) with p-dicyanobenzene (DCNB)_in dimethylformide (DMF) show an excitation intensity dependent quantum yield for for ion-radical production. The transient absorbance associated with the ion radical species together with light intensity dependent fluorescence decay curves demonstrate that excitation annihilation processes can compete effectively with ion-radical formation at high excitation intensities in this polymer.     

Theoretical studies on the formation of N-nitrosodimethylamine

The mechanisms of the formation of N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) were studied at the MP2/6-311+G(d,p)//B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p) level of theory. We focused on the formation of NDMA from the reactions of dimethylamine (DMA) with nitrous acid and nitrite anion. Our calculations show that the reaction of DMA with nitrous acid is predicted to proceed via two distinct pathways: a concerted or a stepwise mechanism. Moreover, the energy barrier for the stepwise mechanism is somewhat higher than that for the concerted mechanism. The difference in these barriers indicates that the reaction of DMA with nitrous acid via the concerted mechanism is much more favored than that via the stepwise mechanism. In the other situation, our results demonstrate that the reaction of DMA with nitrite anion becomes feasible in the presence of carbon dioxide. Furthermore, this reaction proceeds via a stepwise pathway, in which CO₂ first attacks DMA, the result of which then reacts with nitrite anion. It is noteworthy that carbon dioxide appears to be an active catalyst to promote the formation of NDMA. Additionally, the effects of aqueous solvation on the reactions of DMA with nitrous acid and nitrite anion were investigated.