2-ethoxycarbonyl-2-methyl-3,4-dihydro-2H-pyrrole-1-oxide: evaluation of the spin trapping properties

The 2-ethoxycarbonyl-2-methyl-3,4-dihydro-2H-pyrrole-l-oxide (EMPO), an easily prepared pyrroline-N-oxide has been tested as a free radical scavenger. Spin adducts of superoxide, hydroxyl radical, and other free radicals were characterized in phosphate buffer at pH 7.0 and 5.6. At pH 7 in phosphate buffer, the EMPO/O2−• spin adduct was estimated to be about five times more persistent than its DMPO analogue. Furthermore, its decay does not produce the EMPO/HO√ adduct.