Phosphite radicals and their reactions. Examples of redox, substitution, and addition reactions. [Gamma rays and electrons]

Journal Article · Thu Aug 21 00:00:00 EDT 1980 · J. Phys. Chem.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/j100454a010· OSTI ID:5011505

Schaefer, K; Asmus, K D

Phosphite radicals HPO/sub 3/- and PO/sub 3//sup 2/-, which exist in an acid-base equilibrium with pK = 5.75, are shown to take part in various types of reactions. In the absence of scavengers, they disappear mainly by second-order disproportionation and combination; a first-order contribution to the decay is also indicated. HPO/sub 3/- and PO/sub 3//sup 2/- are good reductants toward electron acceptors such as tetranitromethane. In this reaction phosphate and C(NO/sub 2/)/sub 3/- are formed. Phosphite radicals can, however, also act as good oxidants, e.g., toward thiols and thiolate ions. These reactions lead to the formation of RS. radicals which were identified either directly, as in the case of penicillamine, through the optical absorption of PenS. or more indirectly through equilibration of RS. with RS- to the optically absorbing RSSR-. disulfide radical anion. A homolytic substitution reaction (S/sub H/2) occurs in the reaction of the phosphite radicals with aliphatic disulfides, yielding RS. radicals and phosphate thioester RSPO/sub 3//sup 2/-. Lipoic acid, as an example of a cyclic disulfide, is reduced to the corresponding RSSR-. radical anion and also undergoes the S/sub H/2 reaction with about equal probability. An addition reaction is observed between phosphite radicals and molecular oxygen. The resulting peroxo phosphate radicals establish an acid-base equilibrium HPO/sub 5//sup -/. reversible PO/sub 5//sup 2 -/. + H+ with a pK = 3.4. Absolute rate constants were determined for all reactions discussed.

• Research Organization: Hahn-Meitner-Institut fuer Kernforschung Berlin, West Germany
• OSTI ID: 5011505
• Journal Information: J. Phys. Chem.; (United States), Vol. 84:17
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEAR CHEMISTRY
PHOSPHOROUS ACID
RADIOLYSIS
RADICALS
CHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
REDOX REACTIONS
ALKANES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
ELECTRON BEAMS
GAMMA RADIATION
GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
PHOSPHATES
PULSED IRRADIATION
SULFIDES
THIOCTIC ACID
THIOLS
BEAMS
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
CHEMISTRY
CHROMATOGRAPHY
DECOMPOSITION
DISULFIDES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
HETEROCYCLIC ACIDS
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INORGANIC ACIDS
IONIZING RADIATIONS
IRRADIATION
KINETICS
LEPTON BEAMS
LIPOTROPIC FACTORS
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC SULFUR COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PARTICLE BEAMS
PHOSPHORUS COMPOUNDS
RADIATION CHEMISTRY
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATIONS
REACTION KINETICS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
400600* - Radiation Chemistry