Oxidative damage of proline residues by nitrate radicals (NO3): A kinetic and product study

Abstract

Tertiary amides, such as in N-acylated proline or N-methyl glycine residues, react rapidly with nitrate radicals (NO3) with absolute rate coefficients in the range of 4-7 × 108 M-1 s-1 in acetonitrile. The major pathway proceeds through oxidative electron transfer (ET) at nitrogen, whereas hydrogen abstraction is only a minor contributor under these conditions. However, steric hindrance at the amide, for example by alkyl side chains at the α-carbon, lowers the rate coefficient by up to 75%, indicating that NO3-induced oxidation of amide bonds proceeds through initial formation of a charge transfer complex. Furthermore, the rate of oxidative damage of proline and N-methyl glycine is significa..