INTERMEDIATES IN THE OXIDATION OF A DIHYDROPYRIDINE DERIVATIVE OF AZTRELATED TO AIDS DEMENTIA, STUDIED BY NANOSECOND LASER PHOTOLYSIS

Radicals of the AZT derivative yridinylcarbonyl)-3'-azido-2',3'-dideox ythymidine) were obtained on exposure of this compound in alkaline aqu eous solution to pulsed laser emission of LAMBDA = 355 nm and pulsewid th 2 ns FWHM. The radical formation was shown to be due to photoelectr on ejection from the pyridine group following two-step excitation of t he compound. The radicals were found to deprotonate rapidly. Electroch emical analysis showed that the photoionization does not affect the az ido group.