Electron spin resonance studies of γ-irradiated aqueous alkaline solutions of acrylamide at 77 °K

Abstract

The γ radiolysis of acrylamide in 8 M NaOH solutions in H2O and D2O at 77 °K results in the formation of [Formula: see text]and [Formula: see text]radicals, with a maximum yield [Formula: see text] = 1.9 molecules/100 eV. Since in the absence of acrylamide the yield of trapped electrons, G0(e−t), = 1.9, it appears that the precursor of [Formula: see text] is a radical anion [Formula: see text], which then abstracts a proton from the solvent according to [Formula: see text]In support of this interpretation we find that Hm1· is also formed in similar media as a result of (a) "photo-bleaching" of trapped electrons or (b) photo-detachment of electrons from ferrocyanide ion with light of wavelength 2 537 Å. This is confirmed by the electron spin resonance (e.s.r.) spectra obtained from methacrylamide and acrylonitrile in γ-irradiated alkaline ice. The concentration dependence of electron scavenging by acrylamide indicates that the electrons diffuse over distances of up to 170 Å prior to trapping or capture by the solute.