Phototransformations of methylsubstituted oxiranes’ radical cations

Abstract

It has been established that reversible photoinduced transformations of 2,3-dimethyloxirane and methyloxirane radical cations (RCs), observed in freonic matrices at 77 K, are related to the conversion between the open and cyclic forms of the RCs. For the trimethyloxirane RC the action of light on the trans-isomer of the open form results in its photoinduced transformation into a C-centered radical with low quantum efficiency (≈4 × 10−3). Upon the X-ray irradiation of 2,2-dimethyloxirane in freonic matrices at 77 K, a cyclic form of the RC is stabilized (presumably, as part of a complex with matrix molecules) which transforms into a distonic C-centered RC under the action of light with the quantum yield of ≈10−3. Tetramethyloxirane RC, stabilized in its open form, is resistant to the action of light. Probable causes of the observed effects are discussed.