Electron attachment to isolated and microhydrated favipiravir

Nitro-Group π System Drives the Interaction of RRx-001 with Electrons in Solution

Reactivity toward low-energy electrons (LEE) has been hypothesized as a cause of radio-modifying properties for various molecules. LEE's transient nature, however, prevents the establishment of clear links between initial processes at the sub-ps time scale and the final products of radiolysis. Here, such links are explored for the radio-modifying compound RRx-001 (1-bromoacetyl-3,3-dinitroazetidine). Picosecond pulse radiolysis demonstrates the high scavenging capacity of the molecule for secondary quasi-free and solvated electrons forming stable parent anions confirmed by studies of microsolvated RRx-001 in clusters. The anions decay either via auto-detachment of an electron or dissociate involving hydrogen transfer from solvent, resulting in NO2 and 1-(bromoacetyl)-3-nitroazetidine. Surprisingly, no Br dissociation is observed despite its high electron affinity. We assign this behavior to the "inaccessibility" of sigma virtual states for electrons in the solvent, which can be of a general nature.

Non-ergodic fragmentation upon collision-induced activation of cysteine-water cluster cations

Cysteine-water cluster cations Cys(H2O)3,6+ and Cys(H2O)3,6H+ are assembled in He droplets and probed by tandem mass spectrometry with collision-induced activation. Benchmark experimental data for this biologically important system are complemented with theory to elucidate the details of the collision-induced activation process. Experimental energy thresholds for successive release of water are compared to water dissociation energies from DFT calculations showing that clusters do not only fragment exclusively by sequential emission of single water molecules but also by the release of small water clusters. Release of clustered water is observed also in the ADMP (atom centered density matrix propagation) molecular dynamics model of small Cys(H2O)3+ and Cys(H2O)3H+ clusters. For large clusters Cys(H2O)6+ and Cys(H2O)6H+ the less computationally demanding statistical Microcanonical Metropolis Monte-Carlo method (M3C) is used to model the experimental fragmentation patterns. We are able to detail the energy redistribution in clusters upon collision activation. In the present case, about two thirds of the collision energy redistribute via an ergodic process, while the remaining one third is transferred into a non-ergodic channel leading to ejection of a single water molecule from the cluster. In contrast to molecular fragmentation, which can be well described by statistical models, modelling of collision-induced activation of weakly bound clusters requires inclusion of non-ergodic processes.

Favipiravir-Tautomeric and Complexation Properties in Solution

The tautomeric properties of favipiravir were investigated experimentally for the first time by using molecular spectroscopy (UV-Vis absorption, fluorescence and NMR), as well as DFT quantum-chemical calculations. According to the obtained results, the enol tautomer is substantially more stable in most of the organic solvents. In the presence of water, a keto form appears to be favored due to the specific solute-solvent interactions. Upon the addition of alkaline-earth-metal ions, deprotonation and complexation occurred simultaneously, giving the formation of 2 : 1 ligand : metal complexes. According to the theoretical simulations, the metal ion is captured between the carbonyl groups as a result of the size-fit effect.

Effect of Microhydration on the Temporary Anion States of Pyrene

The influence of incremental hydration (≤4) on the electronic resonances of the pyrene anion is studied using two-dimensional photoelectron spectroscopy. The photoexcitation energies of the resonances do not change; therefore, from the anion's perspective, the resonances remain the same, but from the neutral's perspective of the electron-molecule reaction, the resonances decrease in energy by the binding energy of the water molecules. The autodetachment of the resonances shows that hydration has very little effect, showing that even the dynamics of most of the resonances are not impacted by hydration. Two specific resonances do show changes that are explained by the closing of specific autodetachment channels. The lowest-energy resonance leads to efficient electron capture as observed through thermionic emission and evaporation of water molecules (dissociative electron attachment). The implications of low-energy electron capture in dense molecular interstellar clouds are discussed.