Mining reactive triplet carbonyls in biological systems

Aliphatic triplet carbonyls can be treated as short-lived radicals, since both species share similar reactions such as hydrogen atom abstraction, cyclization, addition, and isomerization. Importantly, enzyme-generated triplet carbonyls excite triplet molecular oxygen to the highly reactive, electrophilic singlet state by resonance energy transfer, which can react with proteins, lipids, and DNA. Carbonyl triplets, singlet oxygen, and radicals are endowed with the potential to trigger both normal and pathological responses. In this paper, we present a short review of easy, fast, and inexpensive preliminary tests for the detection of transient triplet carbonyls in chemical and biological systems. This paper covers direct and indirect methods to look for triplet carbonyls based on their spectral distribution of chemiluminescence, photoproduct analysis, quenching of light emission by conjugated dienes, and enhancement of light emission by the sensitizer 9,10-dibromoanthracence-2-sulfonate ion (DBAS).

The Molecular Basis of Organic Chemiluminescence

Bioluminescence (BL) and chemiluminescence (CL) are interesting and intriguing phenomena that involve the emission of visible light as a consequence of chemical reactions. The mechanistic basis of BL and CL has been investigated in detail since the 1960s, when the synthesis of several models of cyclic peroxides enabled mechanistic studies on the CL transformations, which led to the formulation of general chemiexcitation mechanisms operating in BL and CL. This review describes these general chemiexcitation mechanisms-the unimolecular decomposition of cyclic peroxides and peroxide decomposition catalyzed by electron/charge transfer from an external (intermolecular) or an internal (intramolecular) electron donor-and discusses recent insights from experimental and theoretical investigation. Additionally, some recent representative examples of chemiluminescence assays are given.

An Update on General Chemiexcitation Mechanisms in Cyclic Organic Peroxide Decomposition and the Chemiluminescent Peroxyoxalate Reaction in Aqueous Media

Four-membered ring peroxides are intimately linked to chemiluminescence and bioluminescence transformations, as high-energy intermediates responsible for electronically excited state formation. The synthesis of 1,2-dioxetanes and 1,2-dioxetanones enabled mechanistic studies on their decomposition occurring with the formation of electronically excited carbonyl products in the singlet or triplet state. The third member of this family, 1,2-dioxetanedione, has been postulated as the intermediate in the peroxyoxalate reaction, recently confirmed by kinetic studies on peroxalic acid derivatives. Several general chemiexcitation mechanisms have been proposed as model systems for the chemiexcitation step in efficient bioluminescence and chemiluminescence transformations. In this review article, we discuss the validity and efficiency of the most important chemiexcitation mechanisms, extended to aqueous media, where the efficiency is known to be drastically reduced, specifically in the peroxyoxalate reaction, highly efficient in anhydrous environment, but much less efficient in aqueous media. Mechanistic studies of this reaction will be discussed in diverse aqueous environments, with special attention to the catalysis involved in the thermal reaction leading to the formation of the high-energy intermediate and to the chemiexcitation mechanism, as well as emission quantum yields. Finally, several recent analytical and bioanalytical applications of the peroxyoxalate reaction in aqueous media will be given.

Pyridine-2-yl Quinoxaline (2-CPQ) Derivative As a Novel Pink Fluorophore: Synthesis, and Chemiluminescence Characteristics

Quinoxaline derivatives are well-known N-heterocycles with pharmacological and fluorescence activities. Almost all quinoxaline derivatives with extensive π-conjugation have been introduced as fluorophores which emit blue and green light. For the first time, we designed and synthesized 6-chloro-2,3 di(Pyridine-2yl) quinoxaline (2-CPQ) as a pink fluorophore in acetonitrile medium by simple route at room temperature whitin 30 min. The synthesized quinoxaline was identified using ¹H, ¹³C NMR, MS, and FT-IR spectroscopy. Our results showed that the iodine-catalyzed method for both oxidation and cyclization during the synthesis of quinoxaline from pyridine 2-carbaldehyde was straightforward, efficient, and clean. All of the mentioned characterization devices confirmed the synthesis of 2-CPQ.Moreover, we studied the photophysical properties of the synthesized fluorophore in which The UV-Vis absorption spectrum of 2-CPQ in DMF were three peaks at 451, 518 and 556 nm. Based on photophysical properties investigation, 2-CPQ shows good fluorescence with maximum peaks 607 and 653 nm in DMF as solvent (ф_F = 0.21). Hence, the fluorophore was applied in the peroxyoxalate chemiluminescence system. The reaction of imidazole, H₂O_2, and bis (2,4,6-trichlorophenyl) oxalate (TCPO) can transfer energy to a 6-chloro-2,3 di(pyridine-2yl) quinoxaline. In this process, dioxetane was synthesized, which chemically initiated the electron exchange luminescence (CIEEL) mechanism and led to pink light emission. We anticipate our synthesized fluorophores 2-CPQ will have great potential applications in imaging and medical markers.

Cyclic Peroxidic Carbon Dioxide Dimer Fuels Peroxyoxalate Chemiluminescence

Peroxyoxalate chemiluminescence is used in self-contained light sources, such as glow sticks, where oxidation of aromatic oxalate esters produces a high-energy intermediate (HEI) that excites fluorescence dyes via electron transfer chemistry, mimicking bioluminescence for efficient chemical energy-to-light conversion. The identity of the HEI and reasons for the efficiency of the peroxyoxalate reaction remain elusive. We present here unequivocal proof that the HEI of the peroxyoxalate system is a cyclic peroxidic carbon dioxide dimer, namely, 1,2-dioxetanedione. Oxalic peracids bearing a substituted phenyl group were unable to directly excite fluorescent dyes; hence, they could be ruled out as the HEI. However, base-catalyzed cyclization of these species results in bright chemiluminescence, with decay rates and chemiexcitation quantum yields that are influenced by the electronic phenylic substituent properties. Hammett (ρ = +2.2 ± 0.1) and Brønsted (β = -1.1 ± 0.1) constants for the cyclization step preceding chemiexcitation imply that the loss of the phenolate-leaving group and intramolecular nucleophilic attack of the percarboxylate anion occur in a concerted manner, generating 1,2-dioxetanedione as the unique outcome. The presence of better leaving groups influences the reaction mechanism, favoring the chemiluminescent reaction pathway over the nonemissive formation of aryl-1,2-dioxetanones.

Mechanistic Study of the Peroxyoxalate System in Completely Aqueous Carbonate Buffer

The peroxyoxalate reaction is one of the most efficient chemiluminescence transformations, with emission quantum yields of up to 50%; additionally, it is widely utilized in analytical and bioanalytical assays. Although the real reason for its extremely high efficiency is still not yet understood, the mechanism of this transformation has been well elucidated in anhydrous medium. Contrarily, only few mechanistic studies have been performed in aqueous media, which would be of great importance for its application in biological systems. We report here our experimental results of the peroxyoxalate reaction in completely aqueous carbonate buffer, using fluorescein as chemiluminescence activator. The kinetics are very fast in the used basic conditions (pH > 9); despite this, reproducible kinetic results were obtained. The reaction proceeds by specific base catalysis, with rate-limiting attack of hydrogen peroxide anion to the oxalic ester, in competition with ester hydrolysis by hydroxide ion. Emission quantum yields increase with the hydrogen peroxide concentration up to an optimal concentration of 10 mmol L^-1 . The infinite singlet quantum yield of (5.8 ± 0.2) × 10^-7 is much lower than in anhydrous medium; however, it is similar to quantum yields measured before in partially aqueous media.

Preparation and Characterisation of 2,2,2-Triphenyl-2λ5-1,3,2-Dioxastibolane-4,5-Dione as Standard For an Attempt to Trap 1,2-Dioxetanedione, A Possible High-Energy Intermediate in Peroxyoxalate Chemiluminescence

The thermally stable triorganoantimony derivative, 2,2,2-triphenyl-2λ5-1,3,2-dioxastibolane-4,5-dione, has been prepared and characterised being then used as a reference in attempts to trap 1,2-dioxetanedione, one of the high-energy intermediates postulated in peroxyoxalate chemiluminescence, by an insertion reaction with triphenylantimony.

Chemi- and Bioluminescence of Cyclic Peroxides

Bioluminescence is a phenomenon that has fascinated mankind for centuries. Today the phenomenon and its sibling, chemiluminescence, have impacted society with a number of useful applications in fields like analytical chemistry and medicine, just to mention two. In this review, a molecular-orbital perspective is adopted to explain the chemistry behind chemiexcitation in both chemi- and bioluminescence. First, the uncatalyzed thermal dissociation of 1,2-dioxetane is presented and analyzed to explain, for example, the preference for triplet excited product states and increased yield with larger nonreactive substituents. The catalyzed fragmentation reaction and related details are then exemplified with substituted 1,2-dioxetanone species. In particular, the preference for singlet excited product states in that case is explained. The review also examines the diversity of specific solutions both in Nature and in artificial systems and the difficulties in identifying the emitting species and unraveling the color modulation process. The related subject of excited-state chemistry without light absorption is finally discussed. The content of this review should be an inspiration to human design of new molecular systems expressing unique light-emitting properties. An appendix describing the state-of-the-art experimental and theoretical methods used to study the phenomena serves as a complement.

Direct kinetic observation of the chemiexcitation step in peroxyoxalate chemiluminescence

A high-energy intermediate in the peroxyoxalate reaction can be accumulated at room temperature under specific reaction conditions and in the absence of any reducing agent in up to micromolar concentrations. Bimolecular interaction of this intermediate, accumulated in the reaction of oxalyl chloride with hydrogen peroxide, with an activator (highly fluorescent aromatic hydrocarbons with low oxidation potential) added in delay shows unequivocally that this intermediate is responsible for chemiexcitation of the activator. Activation parameters for the unimolecular decomposition of this intermediate (DeltaH(double dagger) = 11.2 kcal mol(-1); DeltaS(double dagger) = -23.2 cal mol(-1) K(-1)) and for its bimolecular reaction with 9,10-diphenylanthracene (DeltaH(double dagger) = 4.2 kcal mol(-1); DeltaS(double dagger) = -26.9 cal mol(-1) K(-1)) show that this intermediate is much less stable than typical 1,2-dioxetanes and 1,2-dioxetanones and demonstrate its highly favored interaction with the activator. Therefore, it can be inferred that structural characterization of the high-energy intermediate in the presence of an activator must be highly improbable. The observed linear free-energy correlation between the catalytic rate constants and the oxidation potentials of several activators definitely confirms the occurrence of the chemically initiated electron-exchange luminescence (CIEEL) mechanism in the chemiexcitation step of the peroxyoxalate system.

Chemiluminescence characteristics of cumarin derivatives as blue fluorescers in peroxyoxalate-hydrogen peroxide system

The chemiluminescence characteristics of seven different cumarin derivatives were studied in detail. The fluorescence and chemiluminescence spectra were compared; all cumarins used were found to act as blue fluorescers. The intensity and kinetic parameters for the chemiluminescent systems were evaluated from computer fitting of the resulting intensity-time plots. Among different cumarin derivatives used, 7-amino-4-trifluoromethylcumarin revealed the most promising characteristics as an efficient blue fluorescent emitter.

Kinetic studies on the peroxyoxalate chemiluminescence reaction: determination of the cyclization rate constant

Although more currently utilized as analytical tool because of its high sensitivity and good reproducibility, the mechanism of the peroxyoxalate system, a chemiluminescence reaction with quantum yields only comparable to bioluminescence systems, has been extensively studied. The light emission mechanism can be divided in the pathway before chemiexcitation, which contains the rate-limiting steps, and the fast and kinetically non-observable chemiexcitation step. In this work, we obtain information on the mechanism of the slow pathways, attribute values to several rate constants prior to chemiexcitation and suggest a mechanistic scheme that could help optimization of conditions when the peroxyoxalate reaction is used as analytical tool.