Nitro compounds reaction with superoxide

As mentioned earlier, when NO concentration exceeds that of superoxide, nitric oxide mostly exhibits an inhibitory effect on lipid peroxidation, reacting with lipid peroxyl radicals. These reactions are now well studied [42-44]. The simplest suggestion could be the participation of NO in termination reaction with peroxyl radicals. However, it was found that NO reacts with at least two radicals during inhibition of lipid peroxidation [50]. On these grounds it was proposed that LOONO, a product of the NO recombination with peroxyl radical LOO is rapidly decomposed to LO and N02 and the second NO reacts with LO to form nitroso ester of fatty acid (Reaction (7), Figure 25.1). Alkoxyl radical LO may be transformed into a nitro epoxy compound after rearrangement (Reaction (8)). In addition, LOONO may be hydrolyzed to form fatty acid hydroperoxide (Reaction (6)). Various nitrated lipids can also be formed in the reactions of peroxynitrite and other NO metabolites. 

Biotransformation pathways of nitroaromatic compounds are believed to result from nitroreductases that have the ability to use nitro as either one- or two-electron acceptors. One-electron acceptance by the nitro compounds results in the production of the nitro radical-anion. This nitro radical-anion becomes one of the most aggressive species in biological systems because of its reaction on endogenous molecules (DNA bases) and its well-known catalytic ability to transfer one electron to molecular oxygen with superoxide anion formation. 

Carbon dioxide radical anions, C02 , are commonly used in aqueous chemistry as a reducing agent for metalloporphyrins or as intermediate in the formation of superoxide anion. COf has been reported to undergo efficient electron transfer reactions with methyl violo-gen, quinones, alkyl halides, fumarates, nitro and nitrosobenzenes and chlorinated benzaldehydes. With nitrobenzenes and chlorinated benzaldehydes, electron attachment occurs on the nitro and aldehyde groups, respectively. CO2 radicals have also been reported to add to some unsaturated compounds such as acrylamide and pyridin-3-ol. Efficient hydrogen abstraction from mercaptobenzenes have also been reported. 

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