Limitations exist among the commonly used cyclic nitrone spin traps for biological free radical detection using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. The design of new spin traps for biological free radical detection and identification using EPR spectroscopy has been a major challenge due to the lack of systematic and rational approaches to their design. In this work, density functional theory (DFT) calculations and stopped-flow kinetics were employed to predict the reactivity of functionalized spin traps with superoxide radical anion (O 2•− ). Functional groups provide versatility and can potentially improve spin-trap reactivity, adduct stability, and target specificity. The effect of functional group substitution at the C-5 position of pyrroline N-oxides on spin-trap reactivity towards O 2•− was computationally rationalized at the PCM/B3LYP/ 6−31+G(d,p)//B3LYP/6−31G(d) and PCM/mPW1K/6−31+G(d,p) levels of theory. Calculated free energies and rate constants for the reactivity of O 2•− with model nitrones were found to correlate with the experimentally obtained rate constants using stopped-flow and EPR spectroscopic methods. New insights into the nucleophilic nature of O 2•− addition to nitrones as well as the role of intramolecular hydrogen bonding of O 2•− in facilitating this reaction are discussed. This study shows that using an N-monoalkylsubstituted amide or an ester as attached groups on the nitrone can be ideal in molecular tethering for improved spin-trapping properties and could pave the way for improved in vivo radical detection at the site of superoxide formation.

Electron paramagnetic resonance spin trapping has become an indispensable tool for the specific detection of reactive oxygen free radicals in biological systems. In this review we describe some of the advantages as well as some experimental considerations of this technique and how it can be applied to biological systems to measure oxidative stress.

Tetrathiatriarylmethyl radicals are ideal spin probes for biological electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy and imaging. The wide application of trityl radicals as biosensors of oxygen or other biological radicals was hampered by the lack of affordable large-scale syntheses. We report the large-scale synthesis of the Finland trityl radical using an improved addition protocol of the aryl lithium monomer to methylchloroformate. A new reaction for the formal one-electron reduction of trityl alcohols to trityl radicals using neat trifluoroacetic acid is reported as well. Initial applications show that the compound is very sensitive to molecular oxygen. It has already provided high-resolution EPR images on large aqueous samples and should be suitable for a broad range of in vivo applications.

Two main questions are addressed in this study: (i) What increase of exchange interaction can be expected when replacing a paramagnetic metal ion with a heavier congener located farther down the periodic table (i.e., 3d-4d-5d), and (ii) for a molecular unit with higher coordination numbers, eight in the present case, how is the magnetic information transferred from the metal ion to its ligand set? Qualitative and quantitative investigations on a series of trimetallic cyano-bridged {MoV(CN)8-NiII} and {WV(CN)8-NiII} compounds revealed ferromagnetic interactions but with a strength modulated by the spin organization and their nature. DFT calculations have been used to examine the mechanism and strengths of the exchange coupling, as well as the influence of the local symmetry of the cyanometalate unit on the spin density distribution. Both the experimental and the calculated behaviors underline a noticeable difference between the Mo and the W derivatives (JMoNi = 26.9 cm(-1) and JWNi = 37.3 cm(-1)) that is correlated to the spin density transferred from the metal center to its ligand set. It is also shown that the shape of the {M(CN)8} polyhedron may lead to nonequivalent CN sites and, consequently, to different strengths of the exchange interaction as a result of the position of the bridging ligands.