Thermally induced homolytic scissions of interunitary bonds in a softwood lignin solution: A spin‐trapping study

Unstable chemical species, that is, radicals generated by the thermal treatment of a dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) solution of the lignin of a softwood, Yezo spruce (Picea jezoensis Carr.), were studied in detail with an electron spin resonance (ESR) method combined with a spin‐trapping technique. An unstable secondary carbon radical (～CH ·) in the solution was trapped as a stable nitroxide spin adduct [R? (N? O ·)? CH～ (R = tert‐butyl benzene)] when the DMSO solution was heat‐treated in the presence of a spin‐trapping reagent [2,4,6‐tri‐tert‐butylnitrosobenzene (BNB)] at about 40°C. This meant that alkyl phenyl ether bonds (～CH? O‐phenyl), known as interunitary lignin bonds, were homolytically scissioned by the thermal treatment in the lignin solution. A detailed analysis of the ESR spectrum revealed that three kinds of radicals—primary (～CH₂ ·), secondary (～CH ·), and tertiary (～C ·) carbon radicals—were trapped as stable spin adducts at about 60°C, although the phenoxy radical (Ph? O ·) was not trapped by the BNB spin trap as the counter radical of the secondary carbon radical. This suggested that a fairly large steric hindrance existed between the so‐called guaiacoxy radical with a methoxy group in the ortho position and the BNB molecule bearing two butyl groups as bulky moieties in the ortho positions. However, the phenoxy radicals in the lignin solution were stable up to about 60°C. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 93: 2136–2141, 2004     

THERMAL INDUCED HOMOLYTIC SCISSIONS OF LIGNIN INTERUNITARY BONDS IN THE HARDWOOD LIGNIN SOLUTION. AN ESR STUDY COMBINED WITH A SPIN TRAPPING METHOD

An electron spin resonance (ESR) method combined with a spin trapping reagent was successfully applied to trap and characterize unstable free radicals which were generated by heat-treatment of the dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) solution of a hardwood, Japanese beech (Fagus crenata) lignin. It was found, consequently, that two unstable secondary carbon radicals, ～ CH? in the solution were created and the resulting radicals were trapped as the stable nitroxide spin adducts when the DMSO solution was heat-treated in the presence of a spin trapping reagent: 2,4,6-tri-tert-butylnitrosobenzene (BNB) at ca. 91°C. This means that so-called alkyl phenyl ether bonds, ～ CH-O- phenyl, known as important lignin interunitary bonds were homolytically scissoned by the heat-treatment of the lignin solution. Further the detailed analysis of the observed ESR spectrum revealed that two positions of alkyl phenyl ether bonds, i.e., β-O-4 and/or α-O-4 bonds as the interunitary linkages in the lignin are homolytically scissioned, although the phenoxy radical, Ph-O ? as the counter radical of the secondary carbon radicals was not trapped by the BNB spin trap. This suggests that fairly large steric hindrances operate between the syringyl with two methoxy moieties at the ortho positions and/or guaiacyl moieties with a methoxy moiety at the ortho position, and the BNB molecule bearing two bulky ortho tert-butyl groups in the phenyl ring.     

有机锡化合物光解活泼自由基的ESR研究

本文用自旋捕捉技术与ESR相结合的方法,研究了六种有机锡化合物的光解反应历程。结果表明:有机锡化合物紫外光照时,碳—锡键发生均裂,产生碳中心和锡中心自由基。其中碳中心自由基易被捕捉剂α-苯基-N-特丁基氮氧化物(PBN)或2,3,5,6-四甲基亚硝基苯(ND)所捕获;而锡中心自由基可与菲醌形成稳定的环状加合物。由于环状加合物中配体的不同,产生的空间效应也不同,从而导致加合物中的未偶电子云密度发生变化,给出相异的ESR信号。     

UV-violet-blue LED induced polymerizations: Specific photoinitiating systems at 365, 385, 395 and 405 nm

Two naphthalimide derivatives (DMAENs) containing tertiary amine groups have been designed and synthesized. Upon exposure to near UV and visible LEDs (365 nm–455 nm), they lead to radicals without adding a hydrogen donor and, in combination with 2,4,6-tris(trichloromethyl)-1,3,5-triazine, an iodonium salt or N-vinylcarbazole, they produce radicals and cations. Compared to the well-known camphorquinone or bis(2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl)-phenylphosphineoxide photoinitiator, the novel DMAENs containing photoinitiating systems are characterized by a very high reactivity for both the free radical polymerization of acrylates and the cationic polymerization of epoxides. This outstanding performance paves the way for polymerization in soft conditions (e.g. upon LED irradiation). The photochemical mechanisms are studied by Molecular Orbitals MO calculations, steady state photolysis, fluorescence, cyclic voltammetry, electron spin resonance spin trapping and laser flash photolysis techniques.     

Thermomechanical Pulp and Light -Photoactivity of α-Carbonyl Group in Solid Lignin

Interaction of sunlight and UV light with thermomechanical (TMP) pulps, milled wood lignin (MWL) and various lignin model compounds in solid state was studied. It was found that TMP fibers were sensitive to these lights. During exposure, TMP lost its brightness as a function of irradiation time and increased its yellowness. The α-carbonyl group functioned as a light absorption center to promote photocleavage of C_α—C_β and β–0–4 linkages. Electron spin resonance (ESR) studies demonstrated that free radicals were generated in the interim. Phenoxy radicals appeared to be important radical intermediates that ultimately transformed into o—quinonoid structures.     

Photokatalytische Systeme. XXXIV. Über die Photoreduktion von Carboxylato(cuproin)kupfer(II)-Chelaten in Alkoholen

Photocatalytic Systems. XXXIV. On the Photoreduction of Carboxylato(cuproine) Copper (II) Chelates in Alcohols In contrast to the behaviour in nonpolar aprotic solcents, the photolysis of cuproine copper(II) chelates of the type Cu(N N) (RCOO)₂ (R  CH₃, C(CH₃)₃; N N = sterically hindered heterocyclic 1, 2-diimine ligand) in alcohols does not lead to formation of free radicals. A two-step mechanism with non-radicalic intermediates is derived from e.s.r. spin trapping and microsecond flash photolysis experiments.     

Photocoupling of Methane in Water Vapor to Saturated Hydrocarbons

Methane can be converted into alkanes (from C₂ to C₆) continuously by ultraviolet (185 nm) irradiation in the presence of water vapor. The products from this reaction are alkanes, which is different from the comparable heterogeneous catalytic reactions, where alkene formation is also observed. The mechanism involves the coupling of alkyl radicals formed by hydrogen abstraction with OH radicals produced following the UV irradiation of water.     

Fragmentation of Fluorinated Model Compounds Exposed to Oxygen Radicals: Spin Trapping ESR Experiments and Implications for the Behaviour of Proton Exchange Membranes Used in Fuel Cells

Low‐molecular weight model compounds (MCs) for Nafion membranes used in fuel cells were exposed at 300 K to ^·OH radicals produced by UV irradiation of aqueous H₂O₂ solutions. The MCs contained fluorinated and partially fluorinated groups terminated by sulphonic or carboxylic acid groups. The fragmentation process in the MCs was studied by spin trapping electron spin resonance (ESR) methods, using 5,5‐dimethylpyrroline‐N‐oxide (DMPO), N‐tert‐butyl‐α‐phenylnitrone (PBN) and 2‐methyl‐2‐nitrosopropane (MNP) as the spin traps. The objective of these experiments was to assess the effect of the type of ionic groups (sulphonic or carboxylic) and of fluorine substitution on the spin adducts detected. DMPO experiments led to the detection of spin adducts of ^·OH and of carbon‐centred radicals (CCRs), and allowed the determination of the ^·OH attack site on the ionic and/or on the protiated or fluorinated groups. CCR adducts were also detected when using PBN as a spin trap; a key point in the interpretation of the PBN results was, however, the realisation that MNP is formed during PBN exposure to UV irradiation and oxygen or other oxidants such as H₂O₂. Experiments with MNP as the spin trap were the most informative in terms of structural details for adducts obtained from each MC. The results allowed the identification of CCRs present as adducts, based on large hyperfine splittings (hfs) from, and the number of, interacting ¹⁹F nuclei; in addition, oxygen‐centred radicals (OCRs) as MNP adducts were also identified, with much lower hfs from ¹⁹F nuclei. Taken together, the results deduced by spin trapping suggest that both sulphonic acid and acetic acid groups can be attacked by ^·OH radicals and confirm two possible degradation mechanisms in Nafion membranes: initiated at the backbone and at the side chain.     

Conversion of alkyl radicals to allyl radicals in irradiated single crystal mats of polyethylene

The decay of alkyl radicals, the conversion of alkyl radicals to allyl radicals and the trapping of allyl radicals in irradiated single crystal mats of polyethylene have been studied by electron spin resonance (e.s.r.). It has been suggested that in the crystal core alkyl radicals react with trans-vinylene double bonds and are converted into trans-vinylene allyl radicals; at the crystal surface, alkyl radicals react with vinyl end groups and are converted into allyl radicals with vinyl end groups. The decay of radical pairs and the formation of trans-vinylene double bonds are discussed.     

Ascorbic acid and ascorbyl palmitate have only minor effect on the formation and decomposition of methyl linoleate hydroperoxides

Effects of ascorbic acid (AA) and ascorbyl palmitate (AP) on lipid hydroperoxides were evaluated during the formation and decomposition of methyl linoleate hydroperoxides (ML‐OOH). AA and AP at 1 and 10 mM levels had no effect on the formation of ML‐OOH during the autoxidation of methyl linoleate at 40 °C. However, depending on the reaction medium, AA and AP at 0.2 and 2 mM either slightly inhibited or accelerated the decomposition of 40 mM cis, trans ML‐OOH in hexadecane or in hexadecane‐inwater emulsion. The increased decomposition rate of ML‐OOH, when compared to a control sample, was apparently due to the reductive activity of AA and AP on metal ions present in the system, as the addition of EDTA improved the stability of ML‐OOH. The more detailed analysis of the decomposition reactions of ML‐OOH suggests that under favorable reaction conditions AA and AP were, to some extent, capable of acting as hydrogen atom donors to peroxyl radicals and reducers of hydroperoxides to more stable hydroxy compounds. However, since all these effects of AA and AP on lipid hydroperoxides were relatively small, it is assumed that the antioxidative activity of AA and AP as well as their effect on the stability and reactions of lipid hydroperoxides in biological systems and in foods is mainly related to their synergistic interactions with other antioxidative compounds such as tocopherols.     

Photochemical degradation of poly(ethylene terephthalate). III. Determination of decomposition products and reaction mechanism

The vacuum photolysis and air photo-oxidation of poly(ethylene terephthalate) were studied using light in the wavelength ranges of 225–420 nm and 300–420 nm. The volatile photodegradation products were determined by mass-spectrometric and gas-chromatographic analysis; CO and CO₂ were found to be the predominant products. In addition, the rates of formation of carboxylic acid endgroups and the net weight losses of the film samples were determined as a function of irradiation time. Quantum yields for the initial rates of formation of CO and CO₂ and of ? COOH within the film were calculated. On the basis of the results obtained, in this and the preceding papers in this series, reaction mechanisms have been proposed for the photochemical degradation of the polymer. The production of CO and ? COOH in both vacuum and air have been attributed mainly to a Norrish type I cleavage and a Norrish type II photorearrangement, respectively. It has also been concluded that, in the presence of air, an oxidative reaction sequence occurs whereby alkyl radicals produced on photolysis react with oxygen to form ROO. radicals. These subsequently react further to produce CO₂ as the main volatile product of photooxidation.     

A new technique for the study of reactive species generated during the initial stages of polymer photodegradation

Summary A low temperature ESR technique has been developed for the observation of free radical intermediates generated in clear polymer films during photolysis by UV light under nitrogen. The technique is simple and reproducible, and can be used for polymers having glass transition temperatures at or about room temperature without the need to employ spin traps. The generation of free radicals can be monitored and quantified during exposure, and the radical yields obtained can then be correlated with the chemical structure of the polymer to provide a rapid predictive evaluation of the exterior durability of the polymer.     

Thermal dimerization of fatty ester hypdroperoxides

Summary When autoxidized fatty esters and purified fatty hydroperoxides were decomposed in the absence of oxygen at 210°C., the principal reaction was dimerization of the fatty acid chains with elimination of the hydroperoxide groups. Dimers isolated by molecular distillation (60 to 90% of the polymer) have approximately 1 mole hydroxyl, 0.5 mole carbonyl, and two double bonds per mole of dimer. Diene conjugation in the dimers from polyunsaturated fat hydroperoxides varied from 10 to 23%. The infrared spectra of the dimers were similar to those of the original fatty esters except for one striking band at 2.9 μ, which is attributed to the secondary hydroxyl group. Thecis-trans diene in the polyunsaturated hydroperoxides was isomerized to thetrans-trans configuration on dimerization. The methyl oleate hydroperoxide dimer showed only absorption for isolatedtrans double bond. The dimer was not split either by catalytic hydrogenation or by hydrogen iodide, indicating a carbon-carbon bond between the monomer units. On oxidation with permanganate and periodate, the dimeric acids behaved like a monounsaturated mixture containing double bonds in the C₆, C₇, C₈, C₉, and C₁₀ positions in the oleate dimer and in the C₈, C₉, and C₁₀ positions in the safflower ester dimer. Although the dimers showed no peroxidic oxygen iodometrically with potassium iodide, a reduction occurred with hydriodic acid that may indicate the presence of intramolecular peroxide groups and/or allylic alcohol or carbonyl groups. Bromination with N-bromosuc-cinimide and dehydrobromination with N,N-dimethyl aniline produced no aromatization. Subsequent oxidation of the dehydrobrominated dimer yielded 2.6% residue, which was not aromatic. This evidence indicates that the dimer does not have a six-membered cyclic structure. Dimerization of the hydroperoxides is suggested as occurring through alkyl or alkoxy hydroperoxide radicals to give carbon-carbon linked fatty acid dimers and some higher polymeric units. Presented at 33rd fall meeting, American Oil Chemists’ Society, Los Angeles, Calif., Sept. 28–30, 1959. This is a laboratory of the Northern Utilization Research and Development Division, Agricultural Research Service, U. S. Department of Agriculture.     

乙酸钠、草酸钠、酒石酸钾在三氧化钨-水体系中光生自由基的研究

当分散在溶液中的TiO_2、znO、CdS、WO_3等多相体系受到光照时,固态的半导体物质吸收光子后会产生电子-空穴对,它们在半导体界面上与周围介质反应,可能以各种方式进行电荷转移而形成不同的活泼中间体,引起人们对发生在半导体粉末上的光化学过程的关注。     

Electron spin resonance spectroscopy for evaluation of early oxidative events in semisolid palm oil

Electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy was applied to study early oxidative events in semisolid palm oil in bulk. Oil was stored at mildly accelerated conditions of 50°C for 7 days and the free radical formation was followed with the addition of spin trap N‐tert‐butyl‐α‐phenyl‐nitrone. Dissolution of the oil samples in isooctane prior to ESR measurements stabilized the ESR signal allowing the changes in relative free radical concentrations during oil storage to be monitored. Formation of lipid hydroperoxides as primary lipid oxidation products was found to correlate with the tendency for the formation of free radicals in the oil during the storage and accordingly, ESR spectroscopy may be used to detect the early events in lipid oxidation in palm oil. However, the interference of added rosemary extract (RE) in ESR analyses was seen as an increased ESR signal while the efficiency of RE as antioxidant in palm oil was confirmed by isothermal DSC. Practical applications : ESR spectroscopy may be used to evaluate early events of oxidation in semisolid oils such as palm fat, which is widely used in food industry.     

Photo-oxidation mechanisms of poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide).

A re-examination of the photo-oxidation mechanism of poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) (PPO) at both long and short irradiation wavelengths under accelerated conditions is reported. The formation rate of poly-2,6-dimethylphenoxy (PDMP) radicals, have been observed by esr spectroscopy, while benzylic-type radicals have been detected by spin trapping experiments using nitrosodurene under UV irradiation conditions. The changes of FTIR spectra obtained under accelerated photo-oxidative conditions show the formation of primary oxidation products such as aromatic aldehydes and quinones. The direct formation of radical cations and superoxide anions by a photo-induced electron-transfer reaction is suggested under our conditions. In addition, some results on the of photo-oxidation PPO/PS blends as a function of polystyrene tacticity are also reported. In the case of syndiotactic polystyrene the blend photostability shows some differences in comparison with the blend containing atactic polystyrene. This effect has been ascribed to the absence of excimers in syndiotactic polystyrene which are not revealed by fluorescence measurements. Finally, the chemical modification of PPO with bromine gave a bromomethylated PPO with different amounts of CH₂ Br groups, which has been used for further substitution reactions with alkoxy sodium salts of 4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperidinyloxy (TEMPO) and 4-hydroxy-1,2,2,6,6-pentamethylpiperidine (PMPP). The accelerated photo-oxidation of a modified copolymer PPO-PMPP containing a 60% PMPP moieties as side groups and its blends with pure PPO has been followed by FTIR and esr spectroscopies. Some comparisons with a commercially available hindered amine light stabilizers (HALS) and a modified copolymer PPO-PMPP are also reported under the same photo-oxidative conditions.     

Yttrium -barium oxide as a robust photocatalyst for photocatalytic degradation of organic dyes under visible light

Based on the structure related to the high-temperature superconductor yttrium-barium-copper oxide, two novel high-efficiency visible light photocatalysts were created in this study. The yttrium-barium oxide (YBO) semiconductors Y₂Ba₃O₆ (YB3O) and Y₂Ba₄O₇ (YB4O) were prepared by a copper-free solid-phase sintering method. They were applied for the effective treatment of dye-containing wastewater by photocatalysis under visible light irradiation. The degradation efficiency of methylene blue (MB) reached more than 95% within 10 min. Stable visible light degradation of methyl orange (MO) was achieved in the presence of YB3O and YB4O. The electron spin resonance technique and active substance capture technique confirmed the presence of superoxide radicals (·O₂^?), hydroxyl radicals (·OH) and holes (h_VB⁺) under visible light illumination. UV–Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy analysis showed that the direct optical band gaps of YB3O and YB4O were 2.550 eV and 2.583 eV, respectively, which resulted in their high visible absorption at 486.27 nm and 480.06 nm. After five cycles, the recoveries of YB3O and YB4O reached 67.15% and 72.98%. Therefore, YB3O and YB4O are considered as powerful semiconductor catalysts for the photocatalytic degradation of organic dyes in wastewater.     

酞花菁及金属酞菁化物紫外光解的ESR研究

在较强的紫外辐射作用下,即使较为稳定的酞菁化合物也可能发生光解。水文用自旋捕捉与ESR技术相结合的方法检出了在光解中生成的氮中心自由基。     

Pro- and Antioxidative Effect of α-Tocopherol on Edible Oils, Triglycerides and Fatty Acids

Using advanced electron paramagnetic resonance techniques (EPR), oxidation of crude vegetable oils and their components (fatty acids and triglycerides) by radicals generated from hydrogen peroxide was investigated. The correlation rotational times were determined allowing us to characterize radicals formed during edible oils oxidation. Additionally ¹H- and ¹⁴N-hyperfine coupling constants differentiate the fatty acids dependently on their unsaturation. The acids with a higher number of unsaturated bonds exhibit higher A_N values of PBN/·lipid adduct. The waste oil with high free fatty acids content underwent the oxidation reaction more efficiently, however due to saturation and the high content of the fatty acids the carbon-centered radicals formed (upon hydrogen peroxide radicals) and their PBN (N-tert-butyl-α-phenylnitrone) adducts were less stable. The antioxidant effect was dependent on the amount of α-tocopherol added. In small amounts of up to 0.35 mg/1 g of fatty acid or triglyceride, it inhibited the creation of PBN/·lipid adducts while with higher amounts it intensified adduct formation. The α-tocopherol (AT) addition influence was also studied as spin scavenging dependence and indicated that any addition of the antioxidant in the investigated samples led to free radical scavenging and the effect increased with the increase in AT content.