The photoreactions of simple amides with NO. Gaining insight into radical bio-damages through an EPR case study.

Eight simple amides have been subjected to UV irradiation in the presence of either MNP or NO. In all cases radical species were generated: these were detected by means of EPR spectroscopy in the form of different nitroxides resulting from the trapping of the primary radicals. NO acted as a double spin trap, scavenging a radical to afford a diamagnetic nitroso derivative that in turn acted as trap towards another radical unit. As amido-groups are present in components of skin tissue and may be present in many therapeutic or cosmetic products used as skin sunscreen, and NO is a ubiquitous endogenous reactive species, the nitroxides detected in the present studies might participate in radical processes triggered by sun exposure and resulting in damages, even severe, of biological tissues.