Fenton chemistry of 1,3-dimethyluracil.

Hydroxyl radicals were generated in the Fenton reaction at pH 4 (Fe(2+) + H(2)O(2) --> Fe(3+) + .OH + OH-, k approximately equal to 60 L mol(-1) s(-1)) and by pulse radiolysis (for the determination of kinetic data). They react rapidly with 1,3-dimethyluracil, 1,3-DMU (k = 6 x 10(9) L mol(-1) s(-1)). With H(2)O(2) in excess and in the absence of O(2), 1,3-DMU consumption is 3.3 mol per mol Fe(2+). 1,3-DMUglycol is the major product (2.95 mol per mol Fe(2+)). Dimers, prominent products of .OH-induced reactions in the absence of Fe(2+)/Fe(3+) (Al-Sheikhly, M.; von Sonntag, C. Z. Naturforsch. 1983, 31b, 1622) are not formed. Addition of .OH to the C(5)-C(6) double bond of 1,3-DMU yields reducing C(6)-yl 1 and oxidizing C(5)-yl radicals 2 in a 4:1 ratio. The yield of reducing radicals was determined with tetranitromethane by following the buildup of nitroform anion. Reaction of 1 with Fe(3+) that builds up during the reaction or with H(2)O(2) gives rise to a short-chain reaction that is terminated by the reaction of Fe(2+) with 2, which re-forms 1,3-DMU. In the presence of O(2), 1.1 mol of 1,3-DMU and 0.6 mol of O(2) are consumed per mol Fe(2+) while 0.16 mol of 1,3-DMU-glycol and 0.17 mol of organic hydroperoxides (besides further unidentified products) are formed. In the presence of O(2), 1 and 2 are rapidly converted into the corresponding peroxyl radicals (k = 9.1 x 10(8) L mol(-1) s(-1)). Their bimolecular decay (2k = 1.1 x 10(9) L mol(-1) s(-1)) yields approximately 22% HO(2)./O(2).(-) in the course of fragmentation reactions involving the C(5)-C(6) bond. Reduction of Fe(3+) by O(2).(-) leads to an increase in .OH production that is partially offset by a consumption of Fe(2+) in its reaction with the peroxyl radicals (formation of organic hydroperoxides, k approximately 3 x 10(5) L mol(-1) s(-1); value derived by computer simulation).

A common carbanion intermediate in the recombination and proton-catalysed disproportionation of the carboxyl radical anion, CO2*-, in aqueous solution.

The carboxyl radical anion, CO2*- was produced by the reactions of OH radicals with either CO or formic acid in aqueous solution. The pKa(*CO2H) was determined by pulse radiolysis with conductometric detection at pH approximately equals 2.3. The bimolecular decay rate constant of CO2*- (2k approximately equals 1.4 x 10(9) dm3mol(-1)s(-1)) was found to be independent of pH in the range 3-8 at constant ionic strength. The yields of the products of the bimolecular decay of the carboxyl radicals, CO2 and the oxalate anion were found to depend strongly on the pH of the solution with an inflection point at pH 3.8. This pH dependence is explained by assuming a head-to-tail recombination of the CO2*- radicals followed by either rearrangement to oxalate or a protonation of the adduct, which subsequently leads to the formation of CO2 and formate. The recombination of CO2*- to give oxalate directly is estimated to have a contribution of <25%.