An ab initio and density functional theory study on neutral pterin radicals

The electronic structures of the five radicals resulting from homolytic elimination of one of the hydrogen atoms from the most stable tautomeric form of neutral pterin were investigated in gas phase as well as in aqueous solution. Molecular wave functions obtained by density functional theory were analysed by quantum theory of atoms in molecules and electron localisation functions (ELF). Spin densities of the radicals as well as electrostatic potential functions were analysed. Radicals resulting from elimination of N-bonded hydrogen atoms are more stable in comparison with radicals obtained after abstraction of C-bonded hydrogen atoms. N-centred radicals show strong delocalisation of spin density over both heteroaromatic rings; in C-centred radicals delocalisation does not occur. ELF analyses showed that in N-derived radicals particularly the lone electron pair at N-2' is strongly involved into the bicyclic heteroaromatic p-electron system. Thereby, bonding geometry at N-2' in these radicals changes from pyramidal to planar. Transition from gas phase to solution phase (water) generally leads to increased polarity of the structures. Pterin-derived free radicals have been implicated in several biologically important reactions; so this investigation provides first insights into the detailed electronic structures of such molecular systems.