Reactivities of Substituted α-Phenyl-N-tert-butyl Nitrones

In this work, a series of α-phenyl-N-tert-butyl nitrones bearing one, two, or three substituents on the tert-butyl group was synthesized. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) was used to investigate their electrochemical properties and showed a more pronounced substituent effect for oxidation than for reduction. Rate constants of superoxide radical (O2•–) reactions with nitrones were determined using a UV–vis stopped-flow method, and phenyl radical (Ph•) trapping rate constants were measured by EPR spectroscopy. The effect of N-tert-butyl substitution on the charge density and electron density localization of the nitronyl carbon as well as on the free energies of nitrone reactivity with O2•– and HO2• were computationally rationalized at the PCM/B3LYP/6-31+G**//B3LYP/6-31G* level of theory. Theoretical and experimental data showed that the rates of the reaction correlate with the nitronyl carbon charge density, suggesting a nucleophilic nature of O2•– and Ph• addition to the nitronyl carbon atom. Finally, the substitue...