ESR study of free radicals produced in polyethylene irradiated by ultraviolet light

ESR studies of ultraviolet-irradiated polyethylene (PE) were carried out. Irradiation effects different from those of high-energy radiation are observed. Ultraviolet radiation is absorbed selectively, and especially in carbonyl groups in PE produced by oxidation. Radicals produced were identified as \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ \hbox{---} {\rm CH}_2 \hbox{---} {\dot {\rm C}} {\rm H} \hbox{---}{\rm CHO}$\end{document} and \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ \hbox{---} {\rm CH}_2 \hbox{---} {\dot {\rm C}} {\rm H} \hbox{---}{\rm CH}_2 \hbox{---}$\end{document}. Some radicals giving a quintet signal stable at room temperature were also observed but remained unidentified. The radical \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ \hbox{---} {\rm CH}_2 \hbox{---} {\dot {\rm C}} {\rm H} \hbox{---}{\rm CHO}$\end{document} undergoes a mutual conversion with the acyl radical:      

Protein thiyl free radicals produced by nitric oxide and nitric oxide donors

The spin-trapping technique was used to study the radical intermediates produced by reaction of nitric oxide (^*NO) and peroxynitrite with serum albumin and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH). Our results show that the major radical product induced by ^*NO and by peroxynitrite with serum albumin and GAPDH was a thiyl radical. The same radical can be detected in the ^*NO-transfer from S-nitroso albumin to low molecular weight thiols. Moreover, ^*NO or peroxynitrite treatment of GAPDH was able to induce NAD-dependent covalent modification of the enzyme in erythrocyte ghosts.     

ESR spectra of free radicals of 3,3-disubstituted 1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyridines produced during electrochemical reduction

The polarographic properties (potentials, number of electrons, reversibility) of the electrochemical reduction of 3,5-diethoxycarbonyl-3-(p-nitrobenzoyl)-6-(p-nitrophenyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyridine and its derivatives in dimethylformamide have been determined. In the course of the electrochemical generation, ESR spectra of primary radical anions of p-nitrobenzoyl structure were obtained along with ESR spectra of nitrophenyl-p-substituted free radicals formed as a result of further reduction.Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, Riga LV-1006. Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 8, pp. 1103–1110, August, 1998.     

ESR study of free radicals produced from the reaction of o-substituted phenyl methacrylates with tert-butoxy radical

ESR spectra of radicals produced from the reactions of phenyl methacrylate (PMA) and four o-substituted PMAs, 2,4,6-trimethyl-, 2,6-diisopropyl-, 2,6-di-tert-butyl-, and 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methyl-PMAs, with tert-butyoxy radical were measured in 2-methyltetrahydrofuran over the temperature range of ?53 to ?15°C. The coupling constants of the β-methylene protons observed varied with the bulkiness of the o-substituents, whereas the p-substitution did not affect the pattern of the spectra. 2,6-Diisopropyl- and 2,4,6-timethyl-PMAs, which can form homopolymers, gave 5- and 13-line spectra, respectively. For the radicals from 2,6-di-tert-butyl- and 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methyl-PMAs, the same 8-line spectrum was observed, indicating that the coupling constant of one of the β-methylene protons was too small to detect. Conformations of the radicals were deduced from the coupling constants of the β-methylene protons. Variation of the ESR spectrum according to the bulkiness of the o-substituent was interpreted as a consequence of steric interactions between the polymer chain bound to the β carbon and the substituents, and the α-methyl group.     

Tautomerism in silicon-containing free radicals

Silicon-containing free radicals with 3,6-di-t-butylpyrocatechinic ligands have been investigated by ESR method. Intramolecular migrations of free valence and bond was found for these systems. It was considered in terms of intramolecular radical substitution.     

Intermediate free radicals in the oxidation of wastewaters

The cleaning action on wastewater as obtained through oxidation methods has been investigated by means of EPR spectroscopy to achieve qualitative and quantitative information on the radicals produced upon utilising peracetic acid and hydrogen peroxide with and without UV irradiation. The DEPMPO spin trap was employed to detect hydroxyl and carbon-centred short living radicals during water disinfection, either in the absence or in the presence of UV-C irradiation. Moreover, three different kinds of water (wastewater, demineralized water, distilled water) were analysed in order to assess the contribution of Fenton reactions to the radical production. The spectroscopic results are discussed in relation to the efficiency of the different oxidising agents and UV irradiation in wastewater disinfection evaluated as Escherichia coli, faecal and total coliforms inactivation.     

ESR and spin trapping of free radicals produced in poly U and poly A using the boron-neutron capture reaction

Powdered samples of poly U and poly A containing sodium tetraborate and controls without tetraborate were irradiated at room temperature with thermal neutrons. Radical formation occurred only in the samples containing tetraborate. Thermal neutrons interact with ¹⁰B (10% naturally occurring in tetraborate) via the boron-neutron capture reaction. This reaction generates α particles and ⁷Li ions with mean kinetic energies of 1.48 and 0.85 MeV, respectively. The identification and location of the free radicals produced by the interaction of these particles with poly U and poly A, was determined by ESR and spin trapping using the spin trap 2-methyl-2-nitrosopropane (MNP). Following dissolution of irradiated poly U in an MNP solution, the spin trapped poly U was hydrolyzed with base (NaOH, pH 12.6). On readjusting the pH to pH 7.5 the spin adduct ESR spectrum showed that in poly U, radical formation occurs at the C(6) carbon of the uracil residues. For poly A the solid state ESR spectrum suggests that radicals are formed at the N(3) and/or N(7) nitrogens and at the C(4) and/or C(5) carbons. However, only the C(5) carbon-centered radicals were spin trapped. In addition, the results for poly A indicate that sugar-phosphate backbone is disrupted by the α particles and ⁷Li ions. The nature of this interactions is still unclear.     

Transient free radicals in viscous solvents

The majority of free radicals are highly reactive species which participate in bimolecular reactions with each other. Validation of the theory of molecular diffusion and reactivity in the liquid state requires knowledge of rate constants of radical–radical reactions (recombination, disproportionation) and their viscosity dependencies. An accurate comparison of theory and experiment has become available due to experimentally measured diffusion coefficients of reactive radicals by transient grating technique. Initial distribution of radicals in solution can be not random but pair-wise as in photo- or thermoinitiation of free radical polymerization reactions. Probability of a radical escape of a partner (cage escape) characterizes the initiator efficiency. Despite decades of measurement of cage effect values, cage effect dynamics with free radicals have only been investigated quite recently. The present tutorial review considers the effect of viscosity of Newtonian liquid on two types of recombination—in the solvent bulk and in a cage. Further, since radicals are paramagnetic species, external magnetic field affects probability of their reactions in pairs. These effects are also observed in viscous liquids, and reasons for such observations are explained. The recently discovered low magnetic field effect is also observed on radical pairs in viscous liquids.     

Detection of free radicals in electrochemical fluorination

Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 1, pp. 255–256, January, 1991.     

ESR study of free radicals in mango

An electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopic study of radicals induced in irradiated fresh mangoes was performed. Mangoes in the fresh state were irradiated with γ-rays, lyophilized and then crushed into a powder. The ESR spectrum of the powder showed a strong main peak at g = 2.004 and a pair of peaks centered at the main peak. The main peak was detected from both flesh and skin specimens. This peak height gradually decreased during storage following irradiation. On the other hand, the side peaks showed a well-defined dose–response relationship even at 9 days post-irradiation. The side peaks therefore provide a useful means to define the irradiation of fresh mangoes.     

EPR study of free radicals in bread

The features of the recorded EPR spectra of paramagnetic species formed in bread and rusk are reported. The appearance of free radicals in them is only connected with their thermal treatment since the starting materials (flour and grains) exhibit very weak EPR signal. The obtained EPR spectra are complex and indicate that: (i) the relative number of paramagnetic species depends on the temperature and treating time of the raw product; (ii) the g-values are strongly temperature dependent with a tendency to coincide at t > or = 220 degrees C. Because of the relatively low (150-220 degrees C) temperature of thermal treatment, the studied free radicals can be assumed to appear in the course of the browning (Maillard) reaction and not to the carbonization of the material.     

Relation of the decay of free radicals in irradiated polyethylene to the molecular motion of the polymer and the configurations of the free radicals

Decay reactions of the free radicals produced in irradiated polyethylene (high-density and low-density materials) were examined in connection with the molecular motion of the matrix polymer. Three temperature regions, in which the free radicals decay very rapidly, at around 120, 200, and 250°K, were designated T_A, T_L, and T_B, respectively. The decay of the free radicals at these temperatures had activation energies in high-density polyethylene of 0.4 kcal/mole for T_A, 9.4 kcal/mole for T_L, and 18.4 kcal/mole for T_B. In low-density polyethylene these quantities were 0.7 kcal/mole for T_A, 23.1 kcal/mole for T_L, and 24.8 kcal/mole for T_B. Comparison of time constants for the decay reactions and for molecular motion of the matrix polymer indicate that the decay in T_A and T_B is closely related to molecular motion in the amorphous regions of the polymer. The decay of the free radicals at T_L in high-density polyethylene is due to molecular motion associated with local mode relaxation at lamellar surfaces, while that of low-density polyethylene is due to local mode relaxation in the completely amorphous region. Steric configurations of the free radicals which decay in the respective temperature regions were also investigated.     

Detection of muonated free radicals through the effects of avoided level crossing. Theory and analysis of spectra

A treatment is developed for the analysis of μSR spectra of muonium-substituted free radicals detected under conditions of avoided level crossing in high longitudinal magnetic fields. Approximate analytical results are compared with those of numerical calculations, and an experimental example is presented.