Abstract
A strong oxidant [Tl(II)] oxidizes adenine (A) and guanine (G) to adenyl and guanyl radical cations, A + ̇ and G + ̇ , respectively. In neutral solutions these cation radicals lose protons and become adenyl, ·A(-H), and guanyl, ·G(-H), radicals. From the pulse radiolysis experiments and the measurements of oxygen uptake, it was concluded that, in contrast with carbon centered radicals, the adenyl and guanyl radicals do not react rapidly with oxygen. Their reaction rate constants are estimated to be of the order of 10 2M -1s -1 or less. The low reactivity of ·A(-H) and ·G(-H) with oxygen is suggested to be a consequence of the unpaired electron being mostly on the oxygen and nitrogen rather than on carbon. In contrast, OH-adducts generated in the reaction of ·OH radical with guanine (·G-OH) and adenine (·A-OH) react with oxygen rapidly.
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