Magnetic Field Effects on the Behavior of Radicals in Protein and DNA Environments

We have examined the behavior of radical pairs derived by hydrogen abstraction of triplet benzophenone and some of its derivatives from bovine serum albumin, human serum albumin and calf thymus DNA. They have been investigated by means of nanosecond laser flash photolysis techniques. The dynamics of radical pair behavior are shown to be sensitive to external magnetic fields; these effects are interpreted using the established model for the influence of magnetic fields on radical pairs in micellar aggregates, in which intersystem crossing of the radical pair is slowed by the external magnetic field. Our results indicate that proteins and DNA can confine the radicals for a sufficiently long period of time for spin evolution to be affected by external fields. In proteins the radical pair retains its geminate character ( i.e . remains confined) for about 0.5–1 μs. Interestingly, the magnetic field effects observed in proteins and in DNA seem to occur in distinct timescales; for example, for 2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorobenzophenone bound to DNA, the magnetic field alters the radical reactivity only over times ≤50 ns, suggesting poor confinement. The timescale for these effects can be increased by promoting Coulombic attraction between DNA and the radical precursor. Electron transfer interactions play a role in the case of DNA.     

Generation and reactivity of simple chloro(aryl)carbenes within the cavities of nonacidic zeolites

A number of para-substituted chloro(aryl)carbenes are generated within the cavities of a series of dry alkali metal cation-exchanged zeolites (LiY, NaY, KY, RbY, and CsY) upon laser flash photolysis of the corresponding diazirine precursor. The absolute reactivity of the chloro(aryl)carbene is found to be strongly dependent on both the nature of the electron-donating and -withdrawing properties of the aryl substituent and the nature of the zeolite charge-balancing cations. The results strongly suggest that two opposing mechanisms for capture of the carbene can occur depending on whether the zeolite framework behaves as a nucleophilic reagent or an electrophilic reagent in its reaction with the carbene center. Hammett relationships for the decay of the carbene as a function of aryl substituent and zeolite counterion versus the sigma+ substituent parameter support a change in mechanism as the carbene center toggles between being electron poor and electron rich. For the electron-poor chloro(4-nitrophenyl)carbene, a framework adduct is proposed upon reaction of the nucleophilic [Si-O-Al]- bridge with the carbene center, and for the electron-rich chloro(4-methoxyphenyl)carbene, an adduct with the tight Li+ cation is proposed.     

Substituent effects on the ionization reaction of beta-mesylate phenethyl radicals

A series of beta-methanesulfonate phenethyl radicals bearing a range of electron donating and withdrawing aromatic substituents were generated and studied in a variety of solvent mixtures using nanosecond laser flash photolysis. Rate constants for the formation of the corresponding styrene radical cation via heterolytic loss of the beta-mesylate leaving group were measured using time-resolved absorption spectroscopy. The ionization reaction was investigated in a variety of solvents and solvent mixtures including 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol, 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol, acetonitrile, methanol and water. The influence of substituent electronic effect and solvent polarity on the kinetics of the beta-heterolysis reaction are discussed and assessed using the sigma+ Hammett parameter and Y(OMs) values, respectively. The small magnitude of m calculated for the formation of the 4-methoxystyrene radical cation by ionization of the mesylate group (m = 0.33) in aqueous methanol mixtures is compared to values obtained for the formation of the same radical cation via loss of chloride and bromide where m = 0.56 and m = 0.45, respectively.     

Fluorescence from Samarium(II) Iodide and Its Electron Transfer Quenching: Dynamics of the Reaction of Benzyl Radicals with Sm(II)

The luminescence from SmI(2) in THF can be readily quenched by a variety of electron acceptors. In the case of organohalides, the reaction is quite fast; for example, for dichloromethane the rate constant is 2.7 x 10(8) M(-)(1) s(-)(1). Electron transfer leads to halide loss and formation of the carbon-centered radical. In the case of benzyl chloride, the benzyl radicals produced can be readily detected using laser flash photolysis techniques. This electron-transfer reaction has been used as a source of benzyl radicals in order to determine the rate constant for their reaction with SmI(2); the value obtained is (5.3 +/- 1.4) x 10(7) M(-)(1) s(-)(1) in THF at room temperature. The effect of HMPA on the spectroscopic properties of SmI(2) has also been examined.     

Interaction potential between two 16O nuclei derived from the Skyrme interaction

The energy functional for the Skyrme density-dependent force is used to calculate the interaction potential between two ¹⁶O nuclei. A two-centre harmonic oscillator potential is employed to construct the density and kinetic energy density of the ground state of the combined system and of the separated nuclei. The antisymmetrization effects are investigated. The relative motion of the nuclei is taken approximately into account and the energy dependence of the potential derived from the Skyrme force is presented.     

PENTACO-ORDINATE PHOSPHORUS COMPOUNDS BY NUCLEOPHILIC ADDITION TO ACTIVATED ALKENES AND ALKYNES IN THE PRESENCE OF ALCOHOLS AND PHENOLS

Abstract

The reactions of a variety of trico-ordinate phosphorus compounds, Ar _n P(OR)_3-n (n = 1 or 2), and cyclic analogues, with acrylonitrile, ethyl acrylate or ethyl phenylpropiolate and alcohols or phenols in low polarity media gives rise to a wide range of pentaco-ordinate phosphorus compounds. Attempts to extend this synthetic route to phosphoranes containing P[sbnd]N or P[sbnd]S bonds met with no success.     

First direct observation of reactive carbenes in the cavities of cation-exchanged Y zeolites

[reaction: see text] Herein we report the first direct observation of reactive carbenes within the cavities of cation-exchanged Y zeolites. Chloro(phenyl)- and bromo(phenyl)carbenes were generated upon laser photolysis of 3-halo-3-phenyldiazirines incorporated within dry zeolites and the absolute reactivity of the carbenes was investigated as a function of counterbalancing cation and coincorporated quenchers in order to elucidate the behavior of these intermediates within zeolites. Product analysis performed upon thermolysis of the diazirine in Y zeolites yielded products that were identified as those derived from the carbene.     

Classical trajectory calculations with time-dependent forces in heavy-ion collisions

The applicability of a phenomenological time-dependent nucleus-nucleus potential to deep inelastic collisions is studied. We present its general shape and make a particular choice of the diabatic and adiabatic parts. From trajectory calculations we find that the angle-energy correlation is well described when a time-dependent friction force is used. We also compare our results to some TDHF calculations.