Semi-Empirical Evaluation of the Probability of Structural Rearrangements in Nitrone Spin Traps

Abstract

Structural rearrangements induced by the action of oxidizers in nitrone spin traps are investigated by means of the semi-empirical calculation of energy changes that accompany the processes assumed on the basis of experimental observations. The mechanisms of cyclization of acyclic nitrones and cycle opening in cyclic dinitrones are assumed on the basis of calculation results. It is shown that water as a solvent plays an important part in these structural rearrangements. Semi-empirical prediction of the reactivity of nitrones as spin traps in oxidative environments is demonstrated to be helpful as a preliminary step to study the spin-trapping capacity of various substituted nitrones.