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Updated: Aug 8, 2026

Detection of Nitric Oxide and Superoxide Radical Anion by Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Spectroscopy from Cells using Spin Traps
Published on: August 18, 2012
Gibbs energy of formation of peroxynitrite
T Nauser1, M Merkofer, R Kissner
1Laboratorium für Anorganische Chemie, Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich, Universitätsstrasse 6, CH-8092 Zürich, Switzerland.
Abstract:
A standard Gibbs energy of formation of 16.6 kcal mol(-)(1) has been reported for peroxynitrite [Merényi, G., and Lind, J. (1998) Chem. Res. Toxicol. 11, 243-246]. This value is based on the rate constants for the forward and backward rate constants of the equilibrium O2*- + NO* if ONOO(-). A rate constant of 0.017 s(-)(1) for the backward rate constant was determined by observing the formation of C(NO(2))(3)(-) when peroxynitrite was mixed with C(NO(2))(4). However, a similar rate constant is also observed in the presence of NO(*), which indicates that formation of C(NO(2))(3)(-) is due to a process other than the reduction of C(NO(2))(4) by O2*-. Additionally, copper(II) nitrilotriacetate enhances the decay of ONOO(-) at pH 9.3, without reduction of copper(II). The preferred thermodynamic values are therefore as follows: Delta(f)H degrees (ONOO(-)) = -10 +/- 2 kcal mol(-)(1), Delta(f)G degrees (ONOO(-)) = 14 +/- 3 kcal mol(-)(1), S degrees (ONOO(-)) = 31 eu, and E degrees '(ONOOH/NO(2)(*), H(2)O) = 1.6 V at pH 7 [Koppenol, W. H., and Kissner, R. (1998) Chem. Res. Toxicol. 11, 87-90].
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