EMPO is a hydrophilic cyclic nitrone analog of the free radical spin trap DMPO . The EMPO-superoxide adduct (EMPO-OOH) exhibits an ESR spectrum that is similar to the DMPO-OOH spectrum. However, the EMPO-OOH adduct is about 5-8 times more stable (t1/2 = 4.8 – 8.6 min) and does not spontaneously decay to the hydroxyl adduct, making spectral interpretation less difficult.
EMPO is a free radical scavenger. EMPO is stable in phosphate buffers at physiological pH, its superoxide spin adducts are more durable and no hydroxyl adducts are produced when decaying. EMPO can be used in the study of free radicals[1].
