FREE RADICALS OF BIOLOGICAL INTEREST: PART II. ELECTRON SPIN RESONANCE (ESR) SPECTRA OF 2537 A IRRADIATED AMINO ACIDS

Abstract

Polycrystalline amino acids, when irradiated with 2537 Å light, afford a variety of electron spin resonance signals. These signals are generally stable at room temperature for relatively long periods of time. For a number of the spectra obtained, there is evidence that more than one radical species contributes to the observed spectra. The signals obtained frequently differ from those obtained on exposure to ionizing radiation. The postulated species formed can often be visualized as being formed by effective hydrogen abstraction from the alkyl-substituted tertiary carbon atom or from the —OH, —SH or —NH group contained in the side chain. For L-phenylalanine a secondary radical is obtained, which is ascribed to a cyclohexadienyl radical.