The photoreactions of simple amides with NO. Gaining insight into radical bio-damages through an EPR case study

Abstract Eight simple amides have been subjected to UV irradiation in the presence of either MNP or NO. In all cases radical species were generated: these were detected by means of EPR spectroscopy in the form of different nitroxides resulting from the trapping of the primary radicals. NO acted as a double spin trap, scavenging a radical to afford a diamagnetic nitroso derivative that in turn acted as trap towards another radical unit. As amido-groups are present in components of skin tissue and may be present in many therapeutic or cosmetic products used as skin sunscreen, and NO is a ubiquitous endogenous reactive species, the nitroxides detected in the present studies might participate in radical processes triggered by sun exposure and resulting in damages, even severe, of biological tissues.