Formation of radicals in the liquid and solid-phase radiolysis of esters studied by spin trapping

Abstract

The radiolysis of some esters /formates and acetates/ has been studied both in liquid and in solid states using a number of different spin traps. Specific deuteration was applied to elucidate the mechanism of radical formation. The radicals were found to result from the reactions of ester radical cations, radical anions and excited molecules. Evidence for intramolecular rearrangement in the radical cations of esters in condensed phase was obtained.