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The autoxidation of organic materials is a detrimental radical chain process often leading to their rapid deterioration unless they are protected by preventive and/or chain breaking antioxidants. The properties of the more important family of the latter ones, that one of phenols, are illustrated in this tutorial review. A short outline of diarylamine antioxidants is also given. We describe simple experimental methods employed for the determination of the two parameters more useful for estimating the inhibiting power of antioxidants, that is the kinetic rate constant for their reaction with the chain carrying peroxyl radicals, kinh, to give persistent phenoxyl or aminyl radicals and the bond dissociation enthalpy BDE(X-H) (X = O, N) of the bond cleaved in the inhibition process. The dependence of these parameters on the number and nature of the substituents is discussed and, in the case of phenols, a simple rule allowing to predict with reasonable accuracy the BDE and kinh values, from their structure. The effect of solvent polarity on the antioxidant power is also described. Finally, the information on the mechanism of reaction between phenols and peroxyl radicals provided by both experiments and theoretical calculations are examined. Because of difficulties associated with the analysis of non-homogenous systems all the reported results refer to homogenous solution in which experimental data can be analysed by means of more reliable and complete treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the application of one-dimensional (1D) and two-dimensional (2D) electron spin resonance imaging (ESRI) for the study of photo- and thermal degradation of polymers containing hindered amine stabilizers (HAS). The method is based on the formation of stable nitroxide radicals derived from HAS during polymer treatment, and on encoding spatial information in the ESR spectra via magnetic field gradients. The imaging technique allowed nondestructive profiling of the HAS-derived nitroxide radicals. The intensity profile in the sample depth was deduced by 1D ESRI, and the spatial variation of the ESR line shapes (‘spectral profiling’) was determined by 2D spectral-spatial ESRI. Application of this approach to the photodegradation of polypropylene and to the photo- and thermal degradation of poly(acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene) will be described. The method can be used to detect spatial heterogeneities in the degradation process and to identify morphological domains that are selectively degraded. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Evaluates the thermochemical and kinetic properties of bisphenol antioxidant. Identification of radicals by the abstraction of hydroxylic hydrogen; Determination of hydrogen bond dissociation energy; Action of bisphenol.

Examines the synthesis of morpholin-4-ylphosphoramidic acid diethyl ester (1a) and (2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidin-1-yl)phosphoramidic acid diethyl ester (2a). Characterization of formed hydrazyl radicals 1b and 2b by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy; Dependence of 1b radical spectra on temperature; Determination of constants for cyclodextrins.

Presents a study which investigated the impact of oxidation by the molecular oxygen of lipids, on the structural and functional properties of biomembranes. Identification of the pathological events related to the membrane damage by lipid peroxidation; Autoxidation of the lipids; Methodology used to conduct the study; Results of the study.

Reports on the reactions of substituted boryl radicals with nitroalkanes. Trialkylamine-boranes; Phenylmorpholine-borane; Product studies; EPR measurements.

Reports on the results of a kinetic investigation of the generation of ligated boryl radicals by reactions with a primary alkyl, alkoxyl, and peroxyl radicals. Rate constants of radical reactions; Involvement of chain reactions in radical-based synthetic procedures.

Examines the bond dissociation enthalpy of alpha-tocopherol and other phenolic antioxidants. Determination of equilibrium constants for the reaction between galvinoxyl and a series of phenolic antioxidants by electron paramagnetic resonance; Reactive phenoxyl radicals; Rate and equilibrium constants for the reactions of alpha-tocopherol at 298 Kelvin in benzene solutions.

Oxidizes the E geometrical isomers of benzaldoxime, p-chlorobenzaldoxime and p-methylbenzaldoxime to the corresponding iminoxyl radicals within the cavity of an EPR spectrometer by using photolytically produced tert-butoxy radicals. Geometry of iminoxyls at low temperature; Notion of Molecular Orbital theory.

In the presence of organic acids in organic media, 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-N-oxyl (TEMPO) reacts with peroxyl radicals at nearly diffusion-controlled rates by proton-coupled electron transfer from the protonated nitroxide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Provides information on the sixth General Meeting of Gruppo Italiano di Risonanza di Spin Elettronico held in Urbino, Italy on September 17-20, 2001.

Abstract: Irradiation of N-triphenylmethyloxy- or N-diphenylmethyloxy phthalimide is reported to result in the formation of phthalimide N-oxyl radical (PINO), which is able to initiate and propagate oxidative radical chain reactions of hydrocarbons. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The effect of water on the O-H bond dissociation enthalpy (BDE) of para-substituted phenols has been investigated by means of DFT calculations. It is shown that the experimental BDE values are fairly well-reproduced by simple B3LYP/6-31G* calculations carried out on the phenol/phenoxyl-water complexes taking into account only hydrogen-bonding (HB) interactions of water molecules with molecular sites (HB model). On the contrary, the BDE values computed with the polarizable continuum model (PCM/B3LYP/6-31G*) are overestimated by about 3-4 kcal/mol. Discrepancy between theory and experiment increases using the PCM method in addition to the HB model. Calculations show that, in general, the HB interaction with water molecules decreases the BDE of phenols bearing electron-releasing groups while increasing the BDE of phenols bearing electron-withdrawing substituents. This opposite effect is explained by considering the resonance structures with charge separation both in phenols and in phenoxyl radicals. With electron donors, the phenoxyl radical is preferentially stabilized by the HB acceptor interaction with two water molecules, while with electron acceptors the phenol is preferentially stabilized by the HB donor interaction with one water molecule. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

EPR spectroscopy has been used to study the interaction of para-substituted benzyl hydroxyalkyl nitroxides with the monolayer of water-soluble protected gold cluster made by a short alkyl chain and a triethylene glycol monomethyl einer unit. The inclusion of nitroxide probes in the more hydrophobic environment of the monolayer gave rise to a reduction of the value of both nitrogen and β-proton hyperfine splittings. The spectra also showed selective line broadening attributed to modulation of the spectroscopic parameters as the result of exchange between free and complexed nitroxide. The rate constants were obtained by analyzing the EPR line shape variations as functions of nanoparticle concentration and temperature. This represents, to the best of our knowledge, the first determination of rate constants for the solubilization of organic substrates in a monolayer-protected cluster. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study on the regeneration of α-tocopherol (vitamin E) by phenolic co-antioxidants in homogeneous hydrocarbon solution is reported. The behavior of some relevant phenols such as BHA, BHT, and trans-resveratrol appears to be nicely predicted by a model based on the knowledge of kinetic and thermochemical data concerning the various reactants. Despite its good reputation as an antioxidant, trans-resveratrol was found only moderately effective (k[sub inh] = 2.0 × 10[sup 5] M[sup -1] s[sup -1] in chlorobenzene at 303 K) and unable to recycle vitamin E. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoropropan-2-ol (HFP) on the properties of phenoxyl radicals has been investigated. HFP produces large variations of the phenoxyl hyperfine splitting constants indicative of a large redistribution of electron spin density, which can be accounted for by the increased importance of the mesomeric structures with electric charge separation. The conformational rigidity of phenoxyl radicals with electron-releasing substituents is also greatly enhanced in the presence of HFP, as demonstrated by the 2 kcal/mol increase in the activation energy for the internal rotation of the p-OMe group in the p-methoxyphenoxyl radical. By using the EPR equilibration technique, we have found that in phenols the O-H bond dissociation enthalpy (BDE) is lowered in the presence of HFP because it preferentially stabilizes the phenoxyl radical. In phenols containing groups such as OR that are acceptors of H-bonds, the interaction between HFP and the substituent is stronger in the phenol than in the corresponding phenoxyl radical because the radical oxygen behaves as an electron-withdrawing group, which decreases the complexating ability of the substituent. In phenols containing OH or NH[sub 2] groups, EPR experiments performed in H-bond accepting solvents showed that the interaction between the solvent and the substituent is much stronger in the phenoxyl radical than in the parent phenol because of the electron-withdrawing effect of the radical oxygen, which makes more acidic, and therefore more available to give H-bonds, the OH or NH[sub 2] groups. These experimental results have been confirmed by DFT calculations. The effect of HFP solvent on the reactivity of phenols toward alkyl radicals has also been investigated. The results indicated that the decrease of BDE observed in the presence of HFP is not accompanied by a larger reactivity. The origin of this unexpected behavior has been shown by DFT computations. Finally, a remarkable increase in the... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines the importance of cooperative effects on bond dissociation enthalpies of polyphenols. Use of electron paramagnetic resonance equilibration technique; Stabilization of aroxyl radical; Formation of intramolecular hydrogen bond.

Examines the chemical reactions involving the tetramethyl-1-piperidinoxyl (TEMPO) compounds along with the related nitroxides. Characterization of the metal hydrides; Proposal of a mechanism for the reduction of TEMPO by the two trimethylsiyl-substituted silanes; Information on the behavior of the nitroxide radicals.

The article demonstrates that the core size of metallic nanoparticles impart different solvating properties to the protective organic monolayers. It reports on the measurement of partition isotherms of an organic probe between an aqueous solution and the monolayer of water-soluble monolayer-protected gold clusters of different sizes. It argues that ESR spectroscopy is a simple and powerful tool to investigate the binding properties of nanoparticles that, are difficult to obtain by other techniques. Using ESR spectroscopy, it illustrates the monitoring of the partition of lipophilic nitroxides between the monolayer of water-soluble nanoparticles and bulk water.

Introduction of an octyltelluro group ortho to the phenolic moiety in 3-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyanisole (BHA) was found to significantly improve the antioxidant characteristics of the material. In contrast to BHA and the corresponding ortho-substituted octylthio- (9c) and octylseleno (9b) derivatives, the organotellurium 9a was regenerable when assayed for its capacity to inhibit azo-initiated peroxidation of linoleic acid in a chlorobenzene/water two-phase system containing N-acetylcysteine as a stoichiometric reducing agent, and peroxyl radicals were quenched more efficiently than with α-tocopherol. In the homogeneous phase, inhibition of styrene autoxidation occurred with a rate constant kinh as large as 1 x 107 M-1 s-1 but with a low (n = 0.4) stoichiometric factor. Evans- Polanij plots of log (kinh) versus BDE(O-H), which are usually linear for phenols with similar steric crowding reacting by H-atom transfer, revealed that compound 9a was more than 2 orders of magnitude more reactive than expected. Although further mechanistic investigations are needed, it seems that the ortho-arrangement of an alkyltelluro group and hydroxyl should be considered a privileged structure for phenolic antioxidants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synthesis of 3-pyridinols carrying alkyltelluro, alkylseleno, and alkylthio groups is described together with a detailed kinetic, thermodynamic, and mechanistic study of their antioxidant activity. When assayed for their capacity to inhibit azo-initiated peroxidation of linoleic acid in a water/chlorobenzcnc two-phase system, tellurium-containing 3-pyridinols were readily regenerable by N-acetylcystcine contained in the aqueous phase. The best inhibitors quenched peroxyl radicals more efficiently than a-socopherol, and the duration of inhibition was limited only by the availability of the thiol reducing agent. in homogeneous phase, inhibition of styrene autoxidation absolute rate constants kin5 for quenching of peroxyl radical were as large as 1 x 107 M-1 s-1, thus outperforming the best phenolic antioxidants including co-tocopherol. Tellurium-containing 3-pyridinolt could be quantitatively regenerated in homogeneous phase by N-tert-butoxycarbonyl cysteine methyl ester, a lipid-soluble analogue of N-acetylcysteine. In the presence of an excess of the thiol, a catalytic mode of action was observed, similar to the one in the two-phase system. Overall, compounds bearing the alkyltclluro moiety ortho to the OH group were much more effective antioxidants than the corresponding isara isomers. The origin of the high reactivity of these compounds was explored using pulse-radiolysis thermodynamic measurements, and a mechanism for their unusual antioxidant activity was proposed. The tellurium-containing 3-pyridinols were also found to catalyze reduction of hydrogen peroxide in the presence of thiol reducing agents, thereby acting as multi-functional (preventive and chain-breaking) catalytic antioxidants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Chalcone, flavone, and arylideneflavanone derivatives bearing one or two 3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl groups were synthesized from 2′,4′-dihydroxyacetophenone and 3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxybenzaldehyde. These flavonoids were converted into the corresponding malonates and then reacted with C60 to yield the title compounds. The O–H bond dissociation enthalpies (BDE) and the chain-breaking antioxidant activity of the flavonoid derivatives and the corresponding C60 conjugates were evaluated. These results are consistent with the phenolic moiety being the main responsible for the reaction with peroxyl radicals, while the C60 part of the molecule acts synergically by trapping alkyl radicals under reduced O2 partial pressure. These novel C60–flavonoid conjugates are therefore promising leads for broad-spectrum radical scavengers. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Hydroquinones (benzene-1,4-diols) are naturally occurring chain-breaking antioxidants, whose reactions with peroxyl radicals yield 1,4-semiquinone radicals. Unlike the 1,2-semiquinone radicals derived from catechols (benzene-l,2-diols), the 1,4-semiquinone radicals do not always trap another peroxyl radical, and instead the stoichiometric factor of hydroquinones varies widely between 0 and 2 as a function of ring-substitution and reaction conditions. This variable antioxidant behavior has been attributed to the competing reaction of the 1,4-semiquinone radical with molecular oxygen. Herein we report the results of experiments and theoretical calculations focused on understanding this key reaction. Our experiments, which include detailed kinetic and mechanistic investigations by laser flash photolysis and inhibited autoxidation studies, and our theoretical calculations, which include detailed studies of the reactions of both 1,4-semiquinones and 1,2-semiquinones with O2, provide many important insights. They show that the reaction of O2 with 2,5-di-tert-butyl-1,4-semiquinone radical (used as model compound) has a rate constant of 2.4 4 ⊥ 0.9 × 105 M-1 s-1 in acetonitrile and as high as 2.0 ± 0.9 × 106 M-1 s-1 in chlorobenzene, i.e., similar to that previously reported in water at pH ~7. These results, considered alongside our theoretical calculations, suggest that the reaction occurs by an unusual hydrogen atom abstraction mechanism, taking place in a two-step process consisting first of addition of O2 to the semiquinone radical and second an intramolecular H-atom transfer concerted with elimination of hydroperoxyl to yield the quinone. This reaction appears to be much more facile for 1,4-semiquinones than for their 1,2-isomers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rotation about the Ar-S bond in ortho-(alkylthio)phenols strongly affects the bond dissociation enthalpy (BDE) and the reactivity of the OH group. Newly synthesized sulfur containing heterocycles 3 and 4, where the -SR group is almost coplanar with the phenolic ring, are characterized by unusually low BDE(O-H) values (79.6 and 79.2 kcal/mol, respectively) and by much higher reactivities toward peroxyl radicals than the ortho-methylthio derivative 1 (82.0 kcal/mol). The importance of the intramolecular hydrogen bond (IHB) in determining the BDE(O-H) was demonstrated by FT-IR experiments, which showed that in heterocycles 3 and 4 the IHB between the phenolic OH group and the S atom is much weaker than that present in 1. Since the IHB can be formed only if the -SR group adopts an out-of-plane geometry, this interaction is possible only in the methylthio derivative 1 and not in 3 and 4. The additive contribution to the phenolic BDE(O-H) of the -SR substituent therefore varies from -3.1 to +2.8 kcal/mol for the in-plane and out-of-plane conformations, respectively. These results may be relevant to understanding the role of the tyrosine-cysteine link in the active site of galactose oxidase, an important enzyme that catalyzes the two-electron aerobic oxidation of primary alcohols to aldehydes. The switching of the ortho -SR substituent between perpendicular and planar conformations may account for the catalytic efficiency of this enzyme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

6-(Ethylthio)-, 6-(ethylseleno)-, and 6-(ethyltelluro)-2,2,4-trimethyl-1,2-dihydroquinoline-three heavier chalcogen analogues of ethoxyquin—were prepared by dilithiation of the corresponding 6-bromodihydroquinoline followed either by treatment with the corresponding diethyl dichalcogenide (sulfur derivative) or by insertion of selenium/tellurium into the carbon-lithium bond, oxidation to a diaryl dichalcogenide, borohydride reduction, and finally alkylation of the resulting areneselenolate/arenetellurolate. Ethoxyquin, its heavier chalcogen analogues, and the corresponding 6-PhS, 6-PhSe, and 6-PhTe derivatives were assayed for both their chain-breaking antioxidative capacity and their ability to catalyze reduction of hydrogen peroxide in the presence of a stoichiometric amount of a thiol reducing agent (thiol peroxidase activity). Ethoxyquin itself turned out to be the best inhibitor of azo-initiated peroxidation of linoleic acid in a water/chlorobenzene two-phase system. In the absence of N-acetylcysteine as a coantioxidant in the aqueous phase, it inhibited peroxidation as efficiently as a-tocopherol but with a more than 2-fold longer inhibition time. In the presence of 0.25 mM coantioxidant in the aqueous phase, the inhibition time was further increased by almost a factor of 2. This is probably due to thiol-mediated regeneration of the active antioxidant across the lipid-aqueous interphase. The ethyltelluro analogue id of ethoxyquin was a similarly efficient quencher of peroxyl radicals compared to the parent in the two-phase system, but less regenerable. Ethoxyquin was found to inhibit azo-initiated oxidation of styrene in the homogeneous phase (chlorobenzene) almost as efficiently (kinh = (2.0 ± 0.2) × 106 M-1 s-1) as α-tocopherol with a stoichiometric factor n = 2.2 ± 0.1. At the end of the inhibition period, autoxidation was additionally retarded, probably by ethoxyquin nitroxide formed during the course of peroxidation. The N-H bond dissociation enthalpy of ethoxyquin (81.3 ± 0.3 kcal/mol) was determined by a radical equilibration method using 2,6-dimethoxyphenol and 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol as equilibration partners. Among the investigated compounds, only the tellurium analogues id and, less efficiently, 1g had a capacity to catalyze reduction of hydrogen peroxide in the presence of thiophenol. Therefore, analogue id is the only antioxidant which is multifunctional (chain-breaking and preventive) in character and which can act in a truly catalytic fashion to decompose both peroxyl radicals and organic hydroperoxides in the presence of suitable thiol reducing agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of 2,3-dihydrobenzo[b]selenophene-5-oI antioxidants was prepared by subjecting suitably substituted allyl 4-methoxyphenyl selenides to microwave-induced seleno-Claisen rearrangement! intramolecular Markovnikov hydroselenation followed by boron tribromide-induced O-demethylation. The novel antioxidants were assayed for their capacity to inhibit azo-initiated peroxidation of linoleic acid in a water/chlorobenzene two-phase system containing N-acetylcysteine as a thiol reducing agent in the aqueous phase. Antioxidant efficiency as determined by the inhibited rate of peroxidation, Rinh, increased with increasing methyl substitution (Rinh = 46-26 µM/h), but none of the compounds could match a-tocopherol (Rinh = 22 µM/h). Regenerability as determined by the inhibition time, Tinh, in the presence of the thiol regenerating agent decreased with increasing methyl substitution. Thus, under conditions where the unsubstituted compound 5a inhibited peroxidation for more than 320 mm, α-tocopherol worked for 90 mm and the trimethylated antioxidant 5g for 60 mm only. Sampling of the aqueous phase at intervals during peroxidation using antioxidant 5a showed that N-acetylcysteine was continuously oxidized with time to the corresponding disulfide. In the absence of the regenerating agent, compounds 5 inhibited peroxidation for 50-60 mm only. A (RO)B3LYP/LANL2DZdp//B3LYP/LANL2DZ model was used for the calculation of homolytic O-H bond dissociation enthalpies (BDE) and adiabatic ionization potentials (IP) of phenolic antioxidants 5. Both BDE (80.6-76.3 kcal/mol) and IP (163.2-156.0 kcal/mol) decrease with increasing methyl substitution. The phenoxyl radical corresponding to phenol 5g gave an intense ESR signal centered at g = 2.0099. The H-0 bond dissociation enthalpy of the phenol was determined by a radical equilibration method using BHA as an equilibration partner. The observed BDE (77.6 ± 0.5 kcal/mol) is in reasonable agreement with calculations (76.3 kcal/mol). As judged by calculated log P values, the lipophilicity of compounds 5 increased slightly when methyl groups were introduced into the phenolic moiety (2.9 > C log P < 4.2). The capacity of compounds 5a (kinh = 3.8 x 105 M-1 s-1) and 5g (kinh = 1.5 x 106 M-1 s-1) to inhibit azo-initiated autoxidation of styrene in the homogeneous phase (chlorobenzene) was also studied. More efficient regeneration at the lipid-aqueous interphase is the most likely explanation why the intrinsically poorest antioxidant 5a can outperform its analogues as well as α-TOC in the two-phase system. Possible mechanisms of regeneration are discussed and evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Epidemiological evidence suggests a link between consumption of chlorinated drinking water and various cancers. Chlorination of water rich in organic chemicals produces carcinogenic organochlorine by-products (OBPs) such as trihalomethanes and haloacetic acids. Since the discovery of the first OBP in the 1970s, there have been several investigations designed to determine the biological effects of single chemicals or small artificial OBP combinations. However, there is still insufficient information regarding the general biological response to these compounds, and further studies are still needed to evaluate their potential genotoxic effects. In the current study, we evaluated the effect of three drinking water disinfectants on the activity of cytochrome P450 (CYP)-linked metabolizing enzymes and on the generation of oxidative stress in the livers of male and female Cyprinus carpio fish (carp). The fish were exposed in situ for up 20 days to surface water obtained from the Trasmene lake in Italy. The water was treated with 1–2mg/L of either sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) or chlorine dioxide (ClO2) as traditional disinfectants or with a relatively new disinfectant product, peracetic acid (PAA). Micronucleus (MN) frequencies in circulating erythrocytes from the fish were also analysed as a biomarker of genotoxic effect. In the CYP-linked enzyme assays, a significant induction (up to a 57-fold increase in the deethylation of ethoxyresorufin with PAA treatment) and a notable inactivation (up to almost a 90% loss in hydroxylation of p-nitrophenol with all disinfectants, and of testosterone 2β-hydroxylation with NaClO) was observed in subcellular liver preparations from exposed fish. Using the electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy radical-probe technique, we also observed that CYP-modulation was associated with the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In addition, we found a significant increase in MN frequency in circulating erythrocytes after 10 days of exposure of fish to water treated with ClO2, while a non-significant six-fold increase in MN frequency was observed with NaClO, but not with PAA. Our data suggest that the use of ClO2 and NaClO to disinfect drinking water could generate harmful OBP mixtures that are able to perturb CYP-mediated reactions, generate oxidative stress and induce genetic damage. These data may provide a mechanistic explanation for epidemiological studies linking consumption of chlorinated drinking water to increased risk of urinary, gastrointestinal and bladder cancers. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A kinetic and thermodynamic investigation of phenols para-substituted with thiyl (SR), sulfinyl (SOR), and sulfonyl (SO2R) groups and ortho-substituted with thiyl groups is reported. The effect of the sulfur substituents on the OH bond dissociation enthalpy values, BDE(OH), was measured by means of the EPR radical equilibration technique and the reactivity toward peroxyl radicals, kinh, of these phenolic antioxidants was determined by inhibited autoxidation studies. An inverse correlation between these two parameters was found. A p-SMe substituent decreased the BDE(OH) value to a lesser extent than a p-OMe group (-3.6 vs -4.4 kcal/mol), whereas the effect of the same groups in an ortho position showed an opposite trend (-0.85 vs -0.2 kcal/mol). The latter result is explained in terms of the different strength of the intramolecular hydrogen bond between the OH proton and the sulfur or oxygen substituents in ortho derivatives. ESI-MS analysis of the products formed by reacting the sulfides with peroxyl radicals from the azoinitiator AIBN revealed the formation of a complex mixture of products, which may play an important role in determining the overall antioxidant activity of the parent compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Halogen-bonded complexes between aliphatic and aromatic iodoperfluorocarbons and persistent nitroxide radicals have been detected by ESR spectroscopy in solution. Quantitative data indicate that nitroxides behave as strong electron donors in halogen bonding, giving rise to interactions whose strength is close to that of strong hydrogen bonds. These results point to a novel design of supramolecular paramagnetic species. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Epidemiological and animal studies linking high fruit and vegetable consumption to lower cancer risk have strengthened the belief that long-term administration of isolated naturally occurring dietary constituents could reduce the risk of cancer. In recent years, metabolites derived from phytoalexins, such as glucoraphanin found in broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables (Brassicaceae), have gained much attention as potential cancer chemopreventive agents. The protective effect of these micronutrients is assumed to be due to the inhibition of Phase-I carcinogen-bioactivating enzymes and/or induction of Phase-II detoxifying enzymes, an assumption that still remains uncertain. The protective effect of glucoraphanin is thought to be due to sulforaphane, an isothiocyanate metabolite produced from glucoraphanin by myrosinase. Here we show, in rat liver, that while glucoraphanin slightly induces Phase-II enzymes, it powerfully boosts Phase-I enzymes, including activators of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), nitrosamines and olefins. Induction of the cytochrome P450 (CYP) isoforms CYP1A1/2, CYP3A1/2 and CYP2E1 was confirmed by Western immunoblotting. CYP induction was paralleled by an increase in the corresponding mRNA levels. Concomitant with this Phase-I induction, we also found that glucoraphanin generated large amount of various reactive radical species, as determined by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectrometry coupled to a radical-probe technique. This suggests that long-term uncontrolled administration of glucoraphanin could actually pose a potential health hazard. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Complex I in bovine heart submitochondrial particles catalyses the NADH-supported generation of superoxide anion; adrenaline is oxidised by superoxide to adrenochrome that, on its hand, is reduced by Complex I, thus establishing a redox cycle that amplifies the superoxide production. The routes in Complex I for superoxide formation and for adrenochrome reduction appear to be different, since they have a different sensitivity to Complex I inhibitors. The results are discussed in terms of current assays for superoxide detection and of pathologies linked to catecholamine oxidation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

all-rac-α-Selenotocopherol (6c) has been synthesized in 11 steps in 6.6% total yield. Key steps include chloromethylation to approach the persubstituted aromatic 9b and cyclization of alcohol precursor 10 by radical homolytic substitution at selenium to form the selenotocopherol heterocycle. Determination of the OH bond dissociation enthalpy (BDE) of 6e by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) equilibration techniques gave a value of 78.1 ± 0.3 kcal mol-1, approximately 1 kcal mol-1 higher than that of α-tocopherol. Kinetic studies performed by measuring oxygen uptake of the induced oxidation of styrene in the presence of an antioxidant showed that selenotocopherol (6c) was a slightly poorer inhibitor than α-tocopherol, in agreement with the BDE values. In contrast to simpler selenotocopherol analogues, 6c was not regenerable in the presence of a stoichiometric coreductant in a two-phase lipid peroxidation model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synthesis and study of a series of 6-substituted-2,4-dimethyl-3-pyridinols having interesting antioxidant properties is reported. The general synthetic strategy leading to the compounds involved a low-temperature aryl bromide-to-alcohol conversion as the last step. 2,4-Dimethyl-3-pyridinol (1 a), 2 ,4,6-trimethyl-3-pyridinol (ib), and 2 ,4-dimethyl-6-(dimethylamino)-3-pyridinol (1 d) were thus prepared from the corresponding 3-bromopyridine precursor. The methoxy derivative 2,4-dimethyl- 6-(methoxy)-3-pyridinol (ic) was also prepared by an alternate route via a Baeyer-Villiger reaction on the substituted benzaldehyde precursor. Novel bicyclic pyridinols 2 and 3 required prior construction of the ring structure, Thus, 2 was prepared by the use of a 6-step intramolecular Friedel-Crafts strategy, and 3 required an 11-step sequence with a thermolytic intramolecular inverse-demand Diels-Alder reaction between a pyrimidine ring and an alkyne as the key step. Basicities of the pyridinols approached physiological pH with increasing electron density in the ring. Pyridinols la-d were found to be indefinitely stable to air oxidation while 2 and 3 decomposed upon extended exposure to the atmosphere. The reactivities of the pyridinols toward chain-carrying peroxyl radicals in homogeneous organic solution were examined by studying the kinetics of radical- initiated styrene autoxidations under controlled conditions. These experiments revealed that some of the newly synthesized pyridinols are the most effective phenolic chain-breaking antioxidants reported to date. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The antioxidant activity of the cis and trans isomers of several analogues of resveratrol and pterostilbene has been investigated, especially with regard to the effect of the stereochemistry about the olefinic double bond. The antioxidant power of these compounds was estimated by measuring the rate constants for their reactions with peroxyl radicals and, with two of them, the bond dissociation enthalpy (BDE) of the phenolic O-H bond which is cleaved in the inhibition reaction. The present data show that in homogeneous solution the various hydroxystilbenes investigated behave as mild antioxidants with the notable exceptions of the trans isomer of 4 and 6, whose activities are only slightly lower than that of a-tocopherol (vitamin E). The rate constants of the inhibition reaction show that the antioxidant activity of the cis-hydroxystilbene is in all the examined cases worse, by a factor ranging between 2 and 6, than that of the corresponding trans isomers. This lower reactivity depends on enthalpy factors as it can be inferred by the experimental values of the O-H bond dissociation enthalpy in the two geometric isomers of 3',5'-di-tert-butyl-4'-hydroxy- 3,5-dimethoxystilbene showing that the strength of the O-H bond in the cis isomer is larger by 1.8 kcal/mol. DFT calculations provide a rationalization of this result, indicating that, although the cis geometry implies a destabilization with respect to the trans species of both phenoxyl radical and parent hydroxystilbene, the destabilization of the radical is larger because the folding of the structure strongly reduces the delocalization of the unpaired electron on the styryl group. A comparison of these results with previously reported data on the pro apoptotic activity of these stilbenoids suggests that these two properties are not correlated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A kinetic and thermodynamic investigation on the antioxidant activity of 2,2'-methylenebis(6-tertbutyl-4-methylphenol) (2), 2,2'-ethylidenebis(4,6-di-tert-butylphenol) (3), and 4,4'-methylenebis(2,6di-tert-butylphenol) (4) are reported. EPR studies of the equilibration between 3 or 4 and a reference phenol, and the corresponding phenoxyl radicals, allowed us to determine the O-H bond dissociation enthalpy (BDE) of the O-H bond as 81.2 and 81.1 kcal/mol in 3 and 4, respectively. Despite this similarity, the absolute rate constants for the reaction with peroxyl radicals, determined by autoxidation studies under controlled conditions, indicate that the o-bisphenols 2 and 3 behave as excellent antioxidants while the p-bisphenol 4 is less effective by a factor of 64 and 22, respectively. FT-IR spectroscopy and product studies suggest that the very good antioxidant activity of the o-bisphenols largely arises from both the reduced steric crowding about the hydroxyl group and the stabilization of the aroxyl radical due to the formation of an intramolecular hydrogen bond between the residual OH and the oxygen radical center. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evidence from both epidemiological and experimental observations have fueled the belief that the high consumption of fruits and vegetables rich in carotenoids may help prevent cancer and heart disease in humans. Because of its well-documented antioxidant and antigenotoxic properties, the carotenoid β-carotene (βCT) gained most of the attention in the early 1980s and became one of the most extensively studied cancer chemopreventive agents in population-based trials supported by the National Cancer Institute. However, the results of three randomized lung cancer chemoprevention trials on βCT supplementation unexpectedly contradicted the large body of epidemiological evidence relating to the potential benefits of dietary carotenoids. Not only did βCT show no benefit, it was associated with significant increases in lung cancer incidence, cardiovascular diseases, and total mortality. These findings aroused widespread scientific debate that is still ongoing. It also raised the suspicion that βCT may even possess co-carcinogenic properties. In this review, we summarize the current data on the co-carcinogenic properties of βCT that is attributed to its role in the induction of carcinogen metabolizing enzymes and the over-generation of oxidative stress. The data presented provide convincing evidence of the harmful properties of this compound if given alone to smokers, or to individuals exposed to environmental carcinogens, as a micronutrient supplement. This has now been directly verified in a medium-term cancer transformation bioassay. In the context of public health policies, while the benefits of a diet rich in a variety of fruits and vegetables should continue to be emphasized, the data presented here point to the need for consideration of the possible detrimental effects of certain isolated dietary supplements, before mass cancer chemoprevention clinical trials are conducted on human subjects. This is especially important for genetically predisposed individuals who are environmentally or occupationally exposed to mutagens and carcinogens, such as those found in tobacco smoke and in industrial settings. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Assessment of oxidative stress status (OSS) in human tissues is still troublesome. Using an innovative EPR-radical-probe we successfully measured the instantaneous concentration of ROS directly in peripheral blood of athletes and normally active workers during 60 min controlled exercise. The probe employed was bis(1-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidinyl)decandioate, which quantitatively and instantaneously reacts with oxygen-centered radicals (including superoxide) to yield the parent nitroxide, which is sufficiently persistent to be measured by EPR. Our measurements suggest that while at rest normally active individuals may benefit more from antioxidant supplementation than athletes; conversely, during exercise athletes may benefit more from supplementation. Our method allows reliable, quick, and non-invasive quantitative determination of OSS in human peripheral blood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bond dissociation enthalpies (BDE) of hydroxylamines containing alkyl, aryl, vinyl, and carbonyl substituents at the nitrogen atom have been determined by using the EPR radical equilibration technique in order to study the effect of the substituents on the O-H bond strength of these compounds. It has been found that substitution of an alkyl group directly bonded to the nitrogen atom with vinyl or aryl groups has a small effect, while substitution with acyl groups induces a large increase of the O-H BDE value. Thus, dialkyl hydroxylamines have O-H bond strengths of only ca. 70 kcal/mol, while acylhydroxylamines and N-hydroxyphthalimide (NHPI), containing two acyl substituents at nitrogen, are characterized by BDE values of ca. 80 and 88 kcal/mol, respectively. Since the phthalimide N-oxyl radical (PINO) has been recently proposed as an efficient oxidation catalyst of hydrocarbons or other substrates, the large BDE value found for the parent hydroxylamine (NHPI) justifies this proposal. Kinetic studies, carried out in order to better understand the mechanism of the NHPI-catalyzed aerobic oxidation of cumene, are consistent with a simple kinetic model where the rate-determining step is the hydrogen atom abstraction from the hydroxylamine by cumylperoxyl radicals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A systematic investigation is reported on the regeneration of α-tocopherol (α-TOH) in homogeneous solution by coantioxidants in order to better understand the mechanism and the factors responsible for the effectiveness of this process. The current availability of thermochemical data concerning the reactants involved in the regeneration reactions, as well as a large number of the kinetic constants for the various reactions involved, allowed us to rationalize the experimental observations collected so far. Three limiting cases have been considered. The first case is that of a coantioxidant irreversibly regenerating α-TOH, where the effectiveness of the recycling process depends on the magnitude of the rate constant k[sub r]. The second case is that of a coantioxidant reversibly recycling α-TOH, where regeneration can only be observed if the bond dissociation enthalpy value of the coantioxidant is lower or at least close to that of the O-H bond of α-tocopherol. The third case is that of a catechol derivative (chosen as a model compound for polyphenolic antioxidants), where recycling of α-TOH is feasible even though the BDE value is significantly higher than that of vitamin E. In this case, the driving force for the recycling process is the removal of the semiquinone radical from the catechol derivative by the α-tocopheroxyl radical, which makes the regeneration of α-TOH practically irreversible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines the substituent effects of the bond dissociation enthalpies of aromatic amines. Employment of electrochemical methods; Use of closed thermodynamic cycles in determining the acidities of anilines; Weakening effect of electron-donating Y.

The role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in liver disease is controversial. This mostly reflects the difficulties to quantify ROS in vivo , particularly in humans. We aimed to measure the presence of ROS in diseased human liver and identify possible relations between ROS levels and etiology, histology and hepatocyte proliferation. Liver biopsy specimens from 102 individuals: 18 healthy controls and 84 patients (42 HCV chronic hepatitis (CHC), 19 HBV chronic hepatitis (CHB), 7 PBC, 4 PSC, 4 HCV relapsing hepatitis after liver transplantation, 3 autoimmune hepatitis, 3 hepatocellular carcinoma, 2 alcoholic hepatitis) underwent analysis by radical-probe electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). ROS in patients (median=5×10 -6 mmol/mg) were higher than in controls (median=3×10 -11 mmol/mg) ( p <0.001). Progressively increasing levels of ROS were recorded passing from control values to CHB (median=4×10 -7 mmol/mg), CHC (median=3×10 -6 mmol/mg) and PBC (median=2×10 -5 mmol/mg), the differences being significant ( p <0.001). ROS in CHC positively correlated with histological disease activity ( r =0.92; p <0.001). No correlation was found between ROS and hepatocyte proliferation rate, presence/degree of steatosis, serum ferritin levels and aminotransferases. ROS overproduction in liver appears to be a common thread linking different pathologic conditions and seems to be influenced by diseases' etiologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines the substituent effects of phenolic antioxidants on bond dissociation enthalpies. Use of electronic paramagnetic resonance radical equilibration technique; Alterations in bond strength; Increase in the reactivity of phenoxyl radicals.

Examines the aerobic oxidation of N-alkylamides catalyzed by N-hydroxyphthalimide. Importance of the bond dissociation energy; Transformation of alkylamines to carbonyl compounds; Hydrolysis of the cyclic imides.

An EPR investigation of the kinetics of the exit, k[sup -], and entrance, k[sup +], processes in micelles of sodium dodecyl sulfate, hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide and polyoxyethylene(6)decanol of a family of para-substituted benzyl tert -butyl nitroxides and para-substituted benzyl hydroxyalkyl nitroxides is reported. The inclusion of nitroxide probes in the hydrophobic environment of the micelle gives rise to a reduction of the value of both nitrogen and β-proton splittings, with the result that the resonance fields for the M[sub I](2H[sub β]) = ±1lines of the free and included species are significantly different. The rate constants were obtained by analyzing the EPR line shape variations as function of surfactant concentration and temperature. The experimental value of k[sup +] obtained from the study of benzyl tert-butyl nitroxide indicates that the association reaction is very close to being controlled by diffusion. The value of the exit rate, k[sup -], instead, depends on the probe hydrocarbon chain length. A comparison of our results with those obtained by luminescence quenching techniques is also reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reactions of alkanes with different halogenating systems are compared in order to explore the reactivity of phthalimido-N-oxyl radical in hydrogen abstraction; the importance of polar effects is emphasised. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Explores a novel chain-breaking antioxidants, 5-pyrimidinols, which is promised to be more effective than phenols as natural and synthetic antioxidants. Novel phenolic antioxidants; Substitution of para and ortho to the phenolic hydroxyl; Increase in the rate of hydrogen atom transfer to peroxyl radicals.