Tsai Pei, Marra Jeffrey M, Pou Sovitj, Bowman Michael K, Rosen Gerald M
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, USA.
J Org Chem. 2005 Sep 2;70(18):7093-7. doi: 10.1021/jo050692f.
[reaction: see text] Ester-containing nitrones, including 5-tert-butoxycarbonyl-5-methyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide 5, have been reported to be robust spin traps for superoxide (O2*-). Using a chiral column, we have been able to isolate the two enantiomers of nitrone 5. With enantiomerically pure nitrone 5a and 5b we explored whether one of these isomers was solely responsible for the EPR spectrum of aminoxyl 6. Data obtained demonstrate that the spin trapping of O2*- by nitrone 5a and nitrone 5b affords the identical EPR spectra and lifetimes in homogeneous aqueous solution and exhibits the same ratio of cis and trans isomers. Quantum chemical modeling in vacuo also finds no difference, aside from the expected optical activity, arising from the difference in stereochemistry.
