Deuterium Substitution in an Electron Spin Resonance Study of Radiation-induced Free Radicals1a

Abstract

Effects of deuterium substitution on the electron spin resonance of x- irradiated organic compounds were investigated. The compounds range from carboxylic acids, amino acids and amides to proteins. Substitution of deuterium for the hydrogens of polar groups--hydroxyl, carboxyl, and amino-- showed that the hydrogens of these groups generally do not contribute, or give only a slight contribution, to the hyperfine structure of the resonance pattern. Exceptions were found, however, notably formic acid and glycine. Most often the hydrogens bonded to carbon gave the hyperfine structure of the e.s.r. patterns. In some instances the additional information provided by deuterium substitution allowed a fairly definite identification of the free radicals. (auth)