Chemical and Spectroscopic Studies of Nitrenium Ions and Related Species

马里兰大学帕克学院的丹尼尔·法尔维博士得到了美国国家科学基金会有机和高分子化学项目的支持。这项研究涉及氮离子(NR2+)的光谱和反应性研究，NR2+是碳离子的氮类似物。它们包含一对非键电子，这些电子可以排列成单态或三态，每个态都有自己独特的反应模式，可能是化学致癌的中间产物。与DNA中的亲核鸟嘌呤碱基的反应被认为会导致突变损伤，从而可能导致癌症。这项研究的重点是硝离子活性中间体的结构和反应活性，这些中间体可能与某些类型的癌症有关。这项工作将使其他相关领域的工作人员感兴趣，并将为对有机化学或肿瘤学职业感兴趣的研究生提供有价值的培训。

Dr. Daniel Falvey at the University of Maryland - College Park is supported by the NSF Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry Program. The research involves spectroscopic and reactivity studies of nitrenium ions (NR2+), which are nitrogen analogues of carbonium ions. They contain a pair of nonbonding electrons which may align to give singlet or triplet spin states, each with its own distinct reactivity pattern, and may be intermediates in chemical carcinogenesis. Reactions with nucleophilic guanine bases in DNA are believed to result in mutagenic lesions which can lead to cancer. The research focuses on the structure and reactivity of nitrenium ions - reactive intermediates which may be involved in causing some kinds of cancer. The work will be of interest to others working in related fields, and will provide valuable training to graduate students interested in careers in organic chemistry or oncology.