Conjugated compounds with radical addition

A general type of chemical reaction between two compounds, A and B, such that there is a net reduction in bond multiplicity (e.g., addition of a compound across a carbon-carbon double bond such that the product has lost this 77-bond). An example is the hydration of a double bond, such as that observed in the conversion of fumarate to malate by fumarase. Addition reactions can also occur with strained ring structures that, in some respects, resemble double bonds (e.g., cyclopropyl derivatives or certain epoxides). A special case of a hydro-alkenyl addition is the conversion of 2,3-oxidosqualene to dammara-dienol or in the conversion of squalene to lanosterol. Reactions in which new moieties are linked to adjacent atoms (as is the case in the hydration of fumarate) are often referred to as 1,2-addition reactions. If the atoms that contain newly linked moieties are not adjacent (as is often the case with conjugated reactants), then the reaction is often referred to as a l,n-addition reaction in which n is the numbered atom distant from 1 (e.g., 1,4-addition reaction). In general, addition reactions can take place via electrophilic addition, nucleophilic addition, free-radical addition, or via simultaneous or pericycUc addition. 

The properties of a compound with isolated double bonds, such as 1,4-pentadiene, generally are similar to those of simple alkenes because the double bonds are essentially isolated from one another by the intervening CH2 group. However, with a conjugated alkadiene, such as 1,3-pentadiene, or a cumulated alkadiene, such as 2,3-pentadiene, the properties are sufficiently different from those of simple alkenes (and from each other) to warrant separate discussion. Some aspects of the effects of conjugation already have been mentioned, such as the influence on spectroscopic properties (see Section 9-9B). The emphasis here will be on the effects of conjugation on chemical properties. The reactions of greatest interest are addition reactions, and this chapter will include various types of addition reactions electrophilic, radical, cycloaddition, and polymerization. 

Compounds such as superoxide anion and peroxides do not directly interact with lipids to initiate oxidation they interact with metals or oxygen to form reactive species. Superoxide anion is produced by the addition of an electron to the molecular oxygen. It participates in oxidative reactions because it can maintain transition metals in their active reduced state, can promote the release of metals that are bound to proteins, and can form the conjugated acid, perhydroxyl radical depending on pH, which is a catalyst of lipid oxidation (39). The enzyme superoxide dismu-tase that is found in tissues catalyzes the conversion of superoxide anion to hydrogen peroxide. 

Radical addition to alkenes is usually difficult, except when addition occurs to conjugated carbonyl compounds (15-24). An important exception involves radicals bearing a heteroatom a to the carbon bearing the radical center. These radical are much more stable and can add to alkenes, usually with anti-Markovnikov orienta-... 

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