Dissociation of aryl sulfonyl phthalimide radical anions: relevance to the biological activity of aryl sulfonyl amides.

The reduction of two aryl sulfonyl phthalimides leads to the corresponding radical anions. Surprisingly, that of the nitro-derivative decomposes faster than that of the methyl derivative. A theoretical investigation along with application of the dissociative ET theory to the decomposition of radical anions allows rationalization of this unexpected behavior.