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Updated: Aug 23, 2026

Chemiluminescence-based Assays for Detection of Nitric Oxide and its Derivatives from Autoxidation and Nitrosated Compounds
Published on: February 16, 2022
Controlled photochemical release of nitric oxide from O2-substituted diazeniumdiolates
Christopher M Pavlos1, Hua Xu, John P Toscano
1Department of Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA.
Abstract:
Diazeniumdiolates are a well-established class of nitric oxide (NO) donors that have been employed in a wide variety of biochemical and pharmacological investigations. To provide a means of targeting NO release, photosensitive precursors to diazeniumdiolates have been developed and are reviewed here. After a brief description of diazeniumdiolate chemistry and the potential uses of photosensitive precursors to NO, three different classes of phototriggered diazeniumdiolates are discussed: 2-nitrobenzyl derivatives, meta-substituted benzyl derivatives, and naphthylmethyl and naphthylallyl derivatives. In addition, the photochemistry of diazeniumdiolate salts themselves is covered.
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