CHEMICAL REACTIONS OF SUPEROXIDE ANION RADICAL IN APROTIC SOLVENTS

Abstract

Abstract— While superoxide anion radical does not normally react with olefins, it does react with activated double bonds. Thus O ‐ 2 oxidatively cleaves certain α,β‐unsaturated ketones such as chalcones and tetracyclone and electron poor olefins such as 1,1‐dicyano and 1,1‐dinitro olefins. Similarly O ‐ 2 can react with substituted nitrobenzenes to yield the corresponding nitrophenols. EPR and oxygen labeling (KO 36 2 ) experiments confirm an electron transfer mechanism.