title: Highlights of current research involving superoxide and perhydroxyl radicals in aqueous solutions.
abstract: Selected topics of current research on HO2/O2- radical reactions in aqueous solutions are described. The subject is introduced by a brief review of the fundamental background chemistry of HO2/O2-, including a description of the rates and mechanisms of formation and decay as well as their spectral properties, current research on self-exchange rates, etc. This is followed by examples of their reactivity with simple metal complexes of iron, manganese and copper and extended to some biological significant metal-containing systems such as porphyrins, haem enzymes and superoxide dismutases. Some recent results on the interaction of these oxy-radicals with antioxidants, specifically vitamin C and E, are discussed. A brief review of some topical chemistry describing HO2/O2- involvement in atmospheric and aquatic chemistry is given. Finally, some new trends in the areas of heterogeneous catalysis and reactor chemistry that involve these species are described.
authors.affiliation: Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York 11973.
authors.forename: B H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Bielski
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Cabelli
mesh_terms: D005609:Free Radicals; D010545:Peroxides; D012996:Solutions; D013481:Superoxides; D014867:Water
chemical_list: D005609:Free Radicals; D010545:Peroxides; D012996:Solutions; D014867:Water; D013481:Superoxides; C049375:perhydroxyl radical