Detection Of Semiquinone Radicals Of N-Acylcatecholamines In Aqueous-Solution

ESR-spectra were recorded during the oxidation of N-acetyldopamine and N-β-alanyldopamine in aqueous solutions. Semiquinone radicals were detected under conditions of spin stabilization by Zn²⁺ ions. The appearance of the spectra was the same in the presence or in the absence of proteins. No evidence was obtained for the formation of products that could have arisen eventually from intermolecular Michael-type addition of nitrogen nucleophiles.