EPR characterization of gadolinium(III)-containing-PAMAM-dendrimers in the absence and in the presence of paramagnetic probes.

Gd(III)-containing dendrimers are promising contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). An important issue in the effectiveness and toxicity of a Gd(III) based MRI contrast agent is knowledge of the relative locations and concentrations of Gd(III) in dendrimer drug delivery hosts. In order to provide experimental information on this issue, we have investigated the electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) of a stable Gd(III) complex with diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) in various polyammidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers as a function of dendrimer generation (G2, G4, and G6), dendrimer core (ethylenediamine = EDA, and cystamine = cys), and dendrimer surface functionality (NH(2), 5-oxo-3-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid methyl ester = pyr, and tris(hydroxymethyl) methylamine = tris). The dendrimer systems were investigated in the presence and absence of paramagnetic probes, that is, Cu(II) and nitroxide radicals (4-(trimethylammonium and dodecyl-dimethylammonium) 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine 1-oxyl bromide = CAT1 and CAT12, respectively). The analysis of the EPR spectra revealed anisotropic locations of Gd-DTPA inside the dendrimer. Computer analysis of the EPR spectra of the probes identified the interactions of the Gd-dendrimers with ions and organic molecules. The interaction between the probes and the dendrimer internal and external surface depends on the type of core, the composition of the external surface and the generation of the dendrimer. The negatively charged Gd-DTPA complex attracts the positively charged species and this provokes spin-spin interactions between Gd and the probes, which increases with a decrease in generation, mainly from G6 to G4, and with an increase in both the Gd-dendrimer concentration and the probe concentration. The cys core increases the internal volume and decreases the packing of the branches.

In situ EPR investigation of the addition of persistent benzyl radicals to acrylates on ZSM-5 zeolites. Direct spectroscopic detection of the initial steps in a supramolecular photopolymerization.

Photolysis of dibenzyl ketone derivatives adsorbed on ZSM-5 zeolites produces persistent benzyl radicals (initiator radicals), which add to methyl acrylates (monomers) to generate persistent adduct radicals. Both initiator and adduct radicals are readily observable by conventional steady-state EPR spectroscopy at room temperature and are persistent for time periods ranging from seconds to many days. The rate of the formation and the amount of the adduct persistent radical formed depends on the structure of the initiator radical (benzyl radical derivative) and the structure of the monomer (acrylate derivative). The lifetimes of the initiator and adduct radicals depend on the supramolecular structure of the radical@zeolite complex and the diffusion and reaction dynamics of the radicals in the complex. The most intense signal and highest addition rate to methyl acrylate were observed for the smallest initiator radical, the benzyl radical, because of its high mobility and relatively rapid diffusion within the internal zeolite surface. With increasing length of an alkyl chain (methyl, ethyl, and pentyl) on either the initiator (alpha position of the radical) or monomer (alkyl group of acrylate ester), the rate of radical addition to the monomer decreased, a result that is consistent with the decreased mobility and diffusion of the initiator radical or monomer. Deuterium isotope experiments and variation of the methyl acrylate concentration demonstrated that the initial adduct radical from methyl acrylate adds to another methyl acrylate to generate a secondary adduct radical, which, in turn, can continue to propagate to form a polymer that is cross-linked to the zeolite crystals. The results demonstrate that EPR can be a powerful tool for the direct in situ analysis of supramolecular photochemistry involving radicals rendered persistent by supramolecular steric effects. The latter eliminate the need for sophisticated flash photolysis equipment to investigate the structure and dynamics of reactive radicals and require only the use of simpler steady-state lamps.

Supramolecular effects on the dynamics of radicals in MFI zeolites: a direct EPR investigation.

Photolysis of the supramolecular complexes (dibenzyl ketones@ZSM-5) produced supramolecular complexes of benzyl radicals@ZSM-5, which were directly detected by CW-EPR spectroscopy, and provided information on the dynamics of the radicals. The lifetimes of the radicals increased as the group X attached to the carbon atom at the radical center increases from X = H (t(1/2) ca. 2 min) to X = (CH(2))(4)CH(3) (t(1/2) > 200 min). In addition, line broadening of the EPR signal was observed as the group X increases. Experiments involving cation-exchanged zeolites (MZSM-5; M = Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs) showed a strong dependence of the radical lifetime on the size of the cation (t(1/2) ca. 10 min for Li and t(1/2) > 200 min for Cs). The results are discussed in terms of supramolecular steric effects on the radical-radical reactions in the zeolite supercages.

EPR investigation of persistent radicals produced from the photolysis of dibenzyl ketones adsorbed on ZSM-5 zeolites.

Photolysis of ketones (1, 1-oMe, 2, 2-oMe, 3, and 4) adsorbed on ZSM-5 zeolites produces persistent carbon-centered radicals that can be readily observed by conventional steady-state EPR spectroscopy. The radicals are persistent for time periods of seconds to many hours depending on the supramolecular structure of the initial radical@zeolite complex and the diffusion and reaction dynamics of radicals produced by photolysis. The structures of the persistent radicals responsible for the observed EPR spectra are determined by a combination of alternate methods of generation of the same radical, by deuterium substitution, and by spectral simulation. A clear requirement for persistence is that the radicals produced by photolysis must either separate and diffuse from the external to the internal surface or be generated within the internal surface and separate and diffuse apart. The persistence of radicals located on the internal surface is the result of inhibition of radical-radical reactions. Radicals that are produced on the external surface and whose molecular structure prevents diffusion into the internal surface are transient because radical-radical reactions occur rapidly on the external surface. The reactions of the persistent radicals with oxygen and nitric oxide were directly studied in situ by EPR analysis. In the case of reaction with oxygen, persistent peroxy radicals are formed in high yield. The addition of nitric oxide scavenges persistent radicals and leads initially to a diamagnetic nitroso compound, which is transformed into a persistent nitroxide radical by further photolysis. The influence of variation of radical structure on transience/persistence is discussed and correlated with supramolecular structure and reactivity of the radicals and their parent ketones.