Laser photolysis study of naphthalene disulphides and naphthalene thiols; reactivities of naphthalenethio radicals

Abstract

Naphthalenethio radicals (Naph-S .) have been formed by laser photolysis. The transient absorption bands have been assigned by both experiment and molecular orbital (MO) calculation. The reactions of Naph-S . with vinyl monomers and dienes have been studied by laser photolysis in solution. From the decays of the bands of Naph-S ., the reaction rate constants have been determined. The 2-naphthalenethio radical is more reactive than the 1-naphthalenethio radical; the resonance stability calculated by the MO method supports this finding. Upon introduction of an OH group into the naphthyl group, the reactivity of the thio radical decreases.