Flash photolysis of alkaline peroxynitrite solutions results in the formation of nitrogen monoxide and superoxide. From the rate of recombination it is concluded that the rate constant of the reaction of nitrogen monoxide with superoxide is (1.9 +/- 0.2) x 10(10) M-1 s-1. The pKa of hydrogen oxoperoxonitrate is dependent on the medium. With the stopped-flow technique a value of 6.5 is found at millimolar phosphate concentrations, while at 0.5 M phosphate the value is 7.5. The kinetics of decay do not follow first-order kinetics when the pH is larger than the pKa, combined with a total peroxynitrite and peroxynitrous acid concentration that exceeds 0.1 mM. An adduct between ONOO- and ONOOH is formed with a stability constant of (1.0 +/- 0.1) x 10(4) M. The kinetics of the decay of hydrogen oxoperoxonitrate are not very pressure-dependent: from stopped-flow experiments up to 152 MPa, an activation volume of 1.7 +/- 1.0 cm3 mol-1 was calculated. This small value is not compatible with homolysis of the O-O bond to yield free nitrogen dioxide and the hydroxyl radical. Pulse radiolysis of alkaline peroxynitrite solutions indicates that the hydroxyl radical reacts with ONOO- to form [(HO)ONOO].- with a rate constant of 5.8 x 10(9) M-1 s-1. This radical absorbs with a maximum at 420 nm (epsilon = 1.8 x 10(3) M-1 cm-1) and decays by second-order kinetics, k = 3.4 x 10(6) M-1 s-1. Improvements to the biomimetic synthesis of peroxynitrite with solid potassium superoxide and gaseous nitrogen monoxide result in higher peroxynitrite to nitrite yields than in most other syntheses.

The first volume profiles for complex formation of α-cyclodextrins (α-CD) with diphenyl azo dyes (S) are presented as a new approach in understanding inclusion phenomena. The following dyes were selected:  sodium 4-(4-diethylaminophenylazo)benzenesulfonate (1), sodium 4-(3-carboxy-4-hydroxy-5-methylphenylazo)benzenesulfonate (2), sodium 4-(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethylphenylazo)benzenesulfonate (3), and sodium 2-hydroxy-3-methyl-5-(4-sulfamoylphenylazo)benzoate (4). The behavior of the dyes alone were first studied in aqueous solutions to rule out any competition reaction. Under the experimental conditions used for the stopped-flow kinetic studies, it has been proved that only monomeric species are present (no aggregation of the dye is formed by π−π stacking interactions). NMR experiments and kinetic evidences have shown that only directional binding of the dye via the sulfonate/sulfonamide group through the wide rim of the α-cyclodextrin was possible. The 1:1 complex was the only stoichiometric species formed. The inclusion reactions for the four selected dyes were characterized by a two-step kinetics described by a first fast step that yields the intermediate, S·α-CD*, followed by a slower rearrangement to form the final complex, S·α-CD. 2D NMR experiments served for a molecular dynamics calculation leading to a structural representation of the intermediate and final complexes. An interpretation of the volume profiles obtained from high-pressure stopped-flow kinetic experiments have not only confirmed the so far proposed mechanisms based on “classical” kinetic investigations but offered a new focus on the inclusion process. The inclusion mechanism can be summarized now as follows:  the complexation begins with an encounter of the dye and α-cyclodextrin mainly due to hydrophobic interactions followed by a partial desolvation of the entering head of the dye. The latter interacts with the two “activated” inner water molecules of the free host and their complete release is delayed by the primary hydroxy group barrier of the α-CD. At this first transition state, a squeezed arrangement develops inside the cavity inducing a negative activation volume (ΔV 1,f ⧧ ≈ −8 to −24 cm3 mol-1). The subsequent intermediate is characterized by a total release of the two inner water molecules and interactions of the dye head with the primary hydroxy groups of the host in a trapped-like structure (ΔV 1° ≈ −11 to −4 cm3 mol-1). The latter interactions and concurrent tail interactions with the secondary hydroxy groups of the host lead at different extents to a strained conformation of the host in the second transition state (ΔV 2,f ⧧ ≈ −2 to −16 cm3 mol-1). In the final complex, the head of the dye is totally rehydrated as it protrudes from the primary end of the host cavity which can now adopt a released conformation (ΔV 2° ≈ +3 to +6 cm3 mol-1 vs +17 cm3 mol-1 for 1).

The development of a stopped-flow instrument that operates over a temperature range of -40 to +100 °C and up to 200 MPa is described. The system has been designed so that measurements can be performed in absorbance and fluorescence modes simultaneously, without dismantling the unit. It can easily be combined with an optical system of a conventional ambient pressure setup by using light guides. Optimum optical performance and a wide operating wavelength range (220-850 nm) are achieved as the light is not passing through the pressurizing fluid. A special design for the pistons has been developed; thus, the apparatus has proven to be leak-free, even under extreme conditions (high pressure, low temperature, various solvents). The dead time of the system is found to be less than 2 ms at 298 K and is pressure independent up to 200 MPa. We examined the kinetics for the formation of the Mg(2+)-8-hydroxyquinoline chelate in aqueous solutions at pH 8.0 in order to develop a convenient alternative test method for high-pressure stopped-flow spectrometers with absorption and fluorescence detection.

The first variable-temperature and variable-pressure stopped-flow spectrophotometric study of the sequential threading of alpha-cyclodextrin (alpha-CD) onto the guest dye Mordant Orange 10, S, is reported. Complementary (1)H one-dimensional (1D) variable-temperature kinetic studies and two-dimensional (2D) rotating-frame nuclear Overhauser effect spectroscopy (ROESY) and EXSY NMR studies are also reported. In aqueous solution at 298.2 K, the first alpha-CD threads onto S to form a 1:1 complex S.alpha-CD with a forward rate constant k(1,f) = 15 200 +/- 200 M(-1) s(-1) and dethreads with a reverse rate constant k(1,r) = 4.4 +/- 0.3 s(-1). Subsequently, S.alpha-CD isomerizes to S.alpha-CD (k(3,f) = 0.158 +/- 0.006 s(-1), k(3,f) = 0.148 +/- 0.006 s(-1)). This process can be viewed as a thermodynamically controlled molecular shuttle. A second alpha-CD threads onto S.alpha-CD to form a 1:2 complex, S.(alpha-CD)(2), with k(2,f) = 98 +/- 2 M(-1) s(-1) and k(2,r) = 0.032 +/- 0.002 s(-1). A second alpha-CD also threads onto S.alpha-CD to form another 1:2 complex, S.(alpha-CD)(2), characterized by k(4,f) = 9640 +/- 1800 M(-1) s(-1) and k(4,r) = 61 +/- 6 s(-1). Direct interconvertion between S.(alpha-CD)(2) and S.(alpha-CD)(2) was not detected; instead, they interconvert by dethreading the second alpha-CD and through the isomerization equilibrium between S.alpha-CD and S.alpha-CD. The reaction volumes, DeltaV(0), were found to be negative for the first three equilibria and positive for the fourth equilibrium. For the first three forward and reverse reactions, the volumes of activation are substantially more negative, indicating a compression of the transition state in comparison with the ground states. These data were used in conjunction with DeltaH, DeltaH degrees, DeltaS, and DeltaS degrees data to deduce the dominant mechanistic threading processes, which appear to be largely controlled by changes in hydration and van der Waals interactions, and possibly by conformational changes in both S and alpha-CD. The structure of the four complexes were deduced from (1)H 2D ROESY NMR studies.