Chapter 13: Spin Trapping

The relative stability of nitroxides can be utilized in the detection of various unstable radicals, which can be converted to more persistent nitroxide radicals via one-step addition to a double bond. Detection of short-lived radicals using probes capable of forming more persistent radical adducts is called spin trapping. Typically, spin trapping is accompanied by electron paramagnetic resonance-based detection, while additional techniques, including mass spectrometric analyses and immune detection of the spin adducts, may be also used. In this chapter, we introduce the chemical principles and applications of electron paramagnetic resonance spin trapping and provide examples of the application of this technique to study chemical mechanisms and strategies to detect biologically relevant free radicals.