1. Atomic Oxygen O(3P): Photogeneration and Reactions with Biomolecules in Aqueous Media.
Ryan. D. McCulla, Department of Chemistry, St. Louis University, St. Louis, MO 63103
Atomic Oxygen O(3P) is readily generated in the upper atmosphere, but methods to generate O(3P) in solution are scarce.
The unique properties of O(3P) suggest that O(3P) can be used to investigate the folding of proteins and strands of nucleic acids.
We have successfully prepared the first organic precursors of O(3P) that are water soluble.
O(3P) is generated upon irradiation of the water soluble heterocyclic oxides with UV or visible light.
In order to utilize O(3P) as an oxidant in a biological setting, a baseline knowledge of the reactivity between O(3P) the building blocks of life are required. We have begun to investigate these reactions..