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Title: A Photoprotective Effect by Cation‐π‐Interaction? Quenching of Singlet Oxygen by an Indole Cation‐π Model System
Abstract

We investigated the effect of the cation‐π interaction on the susceptibility of a tryptophan model system toward interaction with singlet oxygen, that is, type II photooxidation. The model system consists of two indole units linked to a lariat crown ether to measure the total rate of removal of singlet oxygen by the indole units in the presence of sodium cations (i.e. indole units subject to a cation‐π interaction) and in the absence of this interaction. We found that the cation‐π interaction significantly decreases the total rate of removal of singlet oxygen (kT) for the model system, that is, (kT = 2.4 ± 0.2) × 108 m−1 s−1without sodium cationvs(kT = 6.9 ± 0.9) × 107 m−1 s−1upon complexation of sodium cation to the crown ether. Furthermore, we found that the indole moieties undergo type I photooxidation processes with triplet excited methylene blue; this effect is also inhibited by the cation‐π interaction. The chemical rate of reaction of the indole groups with singlet oxygen is also slower upon complexation of sodium cation in our model system, although we were unable to obtain an exact ratio due to differences of the chemical reaction rates of the two indole moieties.

 
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NSF-PAR ID:
10455096
Author(s) / Creator(s):
 ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  
Publisher / Repository:
Wiley-Blackwell
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Photochemistry and Photobiology
Volume:
96
Issue:
6
ISSN:
0031-8655
Page Range / eLocation ID:
p. 1200-1207
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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