THE CHEMISTRY OF PERFLUOROISOBUTYLENE (PFIB) WITH NITRONE AND NITROSOSPIN TRAPS - AN EPR SPIN-TRAPPING STUDY

While applying electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR)/Spin Trapping tec hniques, several reactive intermediate species were identified in the reaction of perfluoroisobutylene (PFIB) with nitrone and nitroso spin trap agents: the carbon dioxide radical anion (CO2.-), a carbonyl fluo ride intermediate (COF), and vinyl carbanions of PFIB. The reaction of PFIB with N-t-butyl-alpha-phenylnitrone (PBN) forms a dipolar ion whi ch undergoes electron transfer reactions generating stable nitrone spi n adducts. Nitroso compounds reacted with carbanions derived from PFIB , which raises the possibility that electron transfer reactions of thi s type might account for the observed nitroxides. Our results suggest that PFIB undergoes some type of electron transfer reaction leading to several reactive intermediate species (RIS). The implications of thes e observations on pulmonary damage caused by inhalation of PFIB are di scussed. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.