The Ph.D. thesis was focused on EPR study of redox reactions of selected types of phenols, secondary amines and diperoxy coumpounds. Within the study some redox agents were employed in nonpolar, in some special cases also in polar solvents. EPR spectra of generated radical products were interpreted using spectral simulation. Study of radical reactions under participation of phenols was preferentially concentrated on the behavior of para methyl substituted phenols, where the instability of this substituent in relation to the applied redox agents was evaluated. The tendency towards the abstraction of hydrogen from methyl group, representing the paralell mechanism to the hydrogen abstaction from phenolic OH group was proved. The generated benzyl radicals were undirectly detected in the form of adducts with aromatic nitroso compounds. These adducts undergo the consecutive transformations, leading to the formation of new types of phenoxy radicals. The study of the decomposition of NH bonds was performed with substituted N,N´-paraphenylenediamines, 1-anilino-1-phenylpentane-3-ones and amino substituted 1,3-dimethyluracils. By the oxidation with 3-chloroperbenzoic acid the corresponding nitroxyl radicals were prepared. In the case of 1-anilino-1-phenylpentane-3-ones the aminyl radicals were prepared by the oxidation with PbO2, which existence was evidenced by spin trapping method with nitrosobenzene. In the framework of the investigation of the decomposition of -O-O- bonds the oxygen centred radicals, generated from peroxidic compounds of Luperox type using selected redox agents were detected by spin trapping method. The analysis of EPR spectra documented that primary alkoxyl radicals undergo the consecutive fragmentation, which leads in the presence of oxygen to the formation of secondary alkoxyl radicals. The generation of oxygen centred radicals during the decomposition was indirectly proved in the presence of model phenolic compounds, where due to the abstraction of hydrogen from phenolic OH group the phenoxyl radicals are formed.

<p>Quantum chemical methods have been used to provide a better understanding of the photochemistry of astaxanthin and phytochromobilin; the photoenzymic repair of UV-light induced DNA damages; and the formation of lignin. </p><p>The carotenoid astaxanthin (AXT) is responsible for the colouration of lobster shell. In solution, the electronic absorption spectra of AXT peak in the 470-490 nm region, corresponding to an orange-red colouration. Upon binding to the lobster-shell protein-complex α-crustacyanin, the absorption maximum is shifted to 632 nm, yielding a slate-blue colouration. Herein, the structural origin of this bathochromic shift is investigated on the basis of recent experimental work.</p><p>The tetrapyrrole phytochromobilin (PΦB) underlies the photoactivation of the plant photoreceptor phytochrome. Upon absorption of 660-nm light, PΦB isomerizes from a C15-<i>Z,syn</i> configuration (in the inactive form of the protein) to C15-<i>E,anti</i> (in the active form). In this work, a reaction mechanism for this isomerization is proposed. </p><p>DNA photolyases are enzymes that repair DNA damages resulting from far-UV-light induced [2+2] cycloaddition reactions involving pyrimidine nucleobases. The catalytic activity of these enzymes is initiated by near-UV and visible light, and is governed by electron transfer processes between a catalytic cofactor of the enzyme and the DNA lesions. Herein, an explanation for the experimental observation that the repair of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPD) – the major type of lesion – proceeds by electron transfer from the enzyme to the dimer is presented. Furthermore, the formation of CPD is studied.</p><p>Lignin is formed by dehydrogenative polymerization of hydroxycinnamyl alcohols. A detailed understanding of the polymerization mechanism and the factors controlling the outcome of the polymerization is, however, largely missing. Quantum chemical calculations on the initial dimerization step have been performed in order to gain some insight into these issues.</p>

Quantum chemical methods have been used to provide a better understanding of the photochemistry of astaxanthin and phytochromobilin; the photoenzymic repair of UV-light induced DNA damages; and the formation of lignin. The carotenoid astaxanthin (AXT) is responsible for the colouration of lobster shell. In solution, the electronic absorption spectra of AXT peak in the 470-490 nm region, corresponding to an orange-red colouration. Upon binding to the lobster-shell protein-complex α-crustacyanin, the absorption maximum is shifted to 632 nm, yielding a slate-blue colouration. Herein, the structural origin of this bathochromic shift is investigated on the basis of recent experimental work. The tetrapyrrole phytochromobilin (PΦB) underlies the photoactivation of the plant photoreceptor phytochrome. Upon absorption of 660-nm light, PΦB isomerizes from a C15-Z,syn configuration (in the inactive form of the protein) to C15-E,anti (in the active form). In this work, a reaction mechanism for this isomerization is proposed. DNA photolyases are enzymes that repair DNA damages resulting from far-UV-light induced [2+2] cycloaddition reactions involving pyrimidine nucleobases. The catalytic activity of these enzymes is initiated by near-UV and visible light, and is governed by electron transfer processes between a catalytic cofactor of the enzyme and the DNA lesions. Herein, an explanation for the experimental observation that the repair of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPD) – the major type of lesion – proceeds by electron transfer from the enzyme to the dimer is presented. Furthermore, the formation of CPD is studied. Lignin is formed by dehydrogenative polymerization of hydroxycinnamyl alcohols. A detailed understanding of the polymerization mechanism and the factors controlling the outcome of the polymerization is, however, largely missing. Quantum chemical calculations on the initial dimerization step have been performed in order to gain some insight into these issues.