Dibenzoyl Peroxide Induced Photodecarboxylation of Amino Acids and Peptides. A Spin-Trapping Study

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/j150616a021

In a new photochemical reaction the radicals produced from several amino acids and peptides by UV irradiation at 313 nm in dimethyl sulfoxide solutions in the presence of dibenzoyl peroxide were characterized by spin trapping using 2-methyl-2-nitrosopropane.The most predominant reactions were the decarboxylation of the amino acids and of the carboxyl-terminal residue in peptides.An unusual behavior was exhibited by the valine moiety which consistently yielded H-atom abstraction radicals.No radicals derived from dimethyl sulfoxide could be detected under our reaction conditions.