ENDOR study of the chlorinated thiocytosine radical in a crystal matrix

Abstract

Interaction of protons with the unpaired electron in the σ2σ*1 three-electron S∴Cl bond has been investigated by electron nuclear double resonance (ENDOR) spectroscopy. The S∴Cl bond in the chlorinated thiocytosine radical, imbedded in the crystal lattice of cytosine hydrochloride, interacts significantly with at least seven protons. Five of these interactions have been analyzed. From the nature of the coupling tensors, it is concluded that three couplings are due to protons being constituents of the chlorine–thiocytosine radical, and the remaining two are due to protons belonging to neighboring cytosine molecules. The nature of the dipolar component of the coupling tensors is not consistent with the location of the entire electron spin density in the S∴Cl bond. From isotropic as well as anisotropic hyperfine coupling tensor components, it is concluded that the unpaired electron is somewhat delocalized over the radical, with a major portion being concentrated in the C(2)–S–Cl region but with a significant fraction occupying a π* molecular orbital extending over the cytosine ring atoms. Density functional theory molecular orbital calculations support such a kind of spin distribution. The data also suggest that the radical remains protonated at both the N(1) and N(3) positions.