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2‐Bromo‐1‐(3,3‐dinitroazetidin‐1‐yl)ethan‐1‐one (RRx‐001) is a hypoxic cell chemotherapeutics with already demonstrated synergism in combined chemo‐radiation therapy. The interaction of the compound with secondary low‐energy electrons formed in large amounts during the physico‐chemical phase of the irradiation may lead to these synergistic effects. The present study focuses on the first step of RRx‐001 interaction with low‐energy electrons in which a transient anion is formed and fragmented. Combination of two experiments allows us to disentangle the decay of the RRx‐001 anion on different timescales. Sole presence of the electron initiates rapid dissociation of NO2 and HNO2 neutrals while NO2− and Br− anions are produced both directly and via intermediate complexes. Based on our quantum chemical calculations, we propose that bidirectional state switching between π*(NO2) and σ*(C−Br) states explains the experimental spectra. The fast dynamics monitored will impact the condensed phase chemistry of the anion as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radical polymerization with reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT polymerization) has been successfully applied to generate polymers of well‐defined architecture. For RAFT polymerization a source of radicals is required. Recent work has demonstrated that for minimal side‐reactions and high spatio‐temporal control these should be formed directly from the RAFT agent or macroRAFT agent (usually carbonothiosulfanyl compounds) thermally, photochemically or by electrochemical reduction. In this work, we investigated low‐energy electron attachment to a common RAFT agent (cyanomethyl benzodithioate), and, for comparison, a simple carbonothioylsulfanyl compound (dimethyl trithiocarbonate, DMTTC) in the gas phase by means of mass spectrometry as well as quantum chemical calculations. We observe for both compounds that specific cleavage of the C−S bond is induced upon low‐energy electron attachment at electron energies close to zero eV. This applies even in the case of a poor homolytic leaving group (.CH3 in DMTTC). All other dissociation reactions found at higher electron energies are much less abundant. The present results show a high control of the chemical reactions induced by electron attachment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the reactivity of misonidazole with low-energy electrons in a water environment combining experiment and theoretical modelling. The environment is modelled by sequential hydration of misonidazole clusters in vacuum. The well-defined experimental conditions enable computational modeling of the observed reactions. While the NO 2 − dissociative electron attachment channel is suppressed, as also observed previously for other molecules, the OH − channel remains open. Such behavior is enabled by the high hydration energy of OH − and ring formation in the neutral radical co-fragment. These observations help to understand the mechanism of bio-reductive drug action. Electron-induced formation of covalent bonds is then important not only for biological processes but may find applications also in technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]