Abstract
Oxalates are widely found in nature and are of importance in many industrial, scientific and technological fields. The dihydrate α-oxalic acid is known to possess an unusually long central C–C bond for a neutral, closed shell molecule as a result of electron density residing in the σ* orbital, whilst the acidic protons are strongly bound into a hydrogen-bonded network with co-crystallised water. Implantation of positive muons into the dihydrate and the anhydrous sodium oxalate was found to yield considerably different effects, with the oxalic acid response predominantly due to diamagnetic muon rest sites, dominated by proton interactions. In contrast, muoniated radicals corresponding to addition at both the carbon and oxygen sites were observed in the anhydrous sodium salt, with the diamagnetic fraction coupling to the quadrupolar 23Na nuclei at low field.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
