1,4-Dihydropyridine derivatives as deactivators of singlet oxygen

The constants of deactivation (k_q) of ¹O₂ by 1,4-dihydropyridine (1,4-DHP) derivatives were determined by quenching of the luminescence of singlet oxygen (¹O₂). The k_q values for 1,4-DHP derivatives range from 10⁶ to 10⁷ litersmole^–1-sec^–1 and depend to a considerable extent on the nature of the substituents in the 1,4-DHP ring. The presence of a substituent in the 4 position decreases k_q, while conversion of the 1,4-DHP system to the corresponding pyridine system deprives the compound of its ability to deactivate ¹O₂. As a result of tests of 12 1,4-DHP derivatives it was found that 2,6-dimethyl-3,5-di (phenylcarbamoyl)-1,4-dihydropyridine deactivates ¹O₂ most effectively.Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 7, pp. 924–926, July, 1981.