Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 11, 2026

Free Radicals in Chemical Biology: from Chemical Behavior to Biomarker Development
Published on: April 15, 2013
Global and local reactivity indices for electrophilic/nucleophilic free radicals
Luis R Domingo1, Patricia Pérez
1Universidad de Valencia, Departamento de Química Orgánica, Dr. Moliner 50, E-46100 Burjassot, Valencia, Spain. domingo@utopia.uv.es
Abstract:
A set of five DFT reactivity indices, namely, the global electrophilicity ω° and nucleophilicity N° indices, the radical Parr function P, and the local electrophilicity ω and nucleophilicity N indices, for the study of free radicals (FRs) are proposed. Global indices have been tested for a series of 32 FRs having electrophilic and/or nucleophilic activations. As expected, no correlation between the proposed global electrophilicity ω° and global nucleophilicity N° has been found. Analysis of the local electrophilicity ω and nucleophilicity N indices for FRs, together with analysis of the local electrophilicity ωk and nucleophilicity Nk indices for alkenes, allows for an explanation of the regio- and chemoselectivity in radical additions of FRs to alkenes. Finally, an ELF bonding analysis for the C-C bond formation along the nucleophilic addition of 2-hydroxyprop-2-yl FR 28 to methyl acrylate 35 evidences that the new C-C bond is formed by C-to-C coupling of two radical centres, which are properly characterized through the use of the Parr functions.
More Related Videos
10:46In Vivo EPR Assessment of pH, pO2, Redox Status, and Concentrations of Phosphate and Glutathione in the Tumor Microenvironment
Published on: March 16, 2018
08:01Rapid Scan Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Opens New Avenues for Imaging Physiologically Important Parameters In Vivo
Published on: September 26, 2016
Related Concept Videos
Radical Reactivity: Electrophilic Radicals
Radical Reactivity: Overview
Radical Reactivity: Nucleophilic Radicals
Radical Reactivity: Intramolecular vs Intermolecular
Electrophiles
While a positive electrophile, like a proton, reacts due to its vacant, low-energy 1s orbital, the...
Radical Reactivity: Steric Effects
Along with electronic factors, steric factors also account...