Chemical Mechanisms Underlying the Biological and Medical Role of Nitrous Oxide
Researchers:
The aim of the present project is the elucidation of the chemical mechanisms underlying the coupling of nitric oxide (NO) to radicals likely to form in biological environments. These radicals are oftentimes organic peroxyl or aromatic oxygen-inert radicals.
The coupling of peroxyl radicals with NO generate novel and more aggressive oxygen-and nitrogen-centered radicals. It is the action of the latter that bring about most damage in biological systems. The aromatic nitroso intermediates will be investigated with respect to further transformation. In this context the entire mechanism of phenolic nitrosation as hitherto accepted will be revised.
The chemical mechanism by which nitroxyl radicals interact with reactive oxygen- and nitrogen-centered radicals as well as with thiyl radicals will be scrutinized. These investigations will take place upon in situ generation of the radicals in question, often in the presence of NO. Kinetic and product studies will be complemented by thermochemical/redox studies on selected radicals and further insight will be gained from selected quantum chemical calculations.
