The synthesis of 2,2- and 2,5-disubstituted pyrrolidine nitroxide radicals starting from readily available nitrones 1, 11 is described. The stable radicals are acylating (10, 20), alkylating (7, 17) and thiol-specific (8, 18) reagents capable of producing cross-links in proteins over distances in the range of 10-15 Å.
cross linking reagents - proteins - free radicals - Grignard reactions - nitrones - lithium