Electron transfer from α-aminoalkyl radicals to methyl viologen

The reactions of tert-butoxyl radicals with amines, leading to the formation of α-aminoalkyl radicals, and the reactions of these with the electron acceptor methyl viologen have been examined using laser flash photolysis techniques. For example, the radicals CH₃?HNEt₂ and HOCH₂?H N(CH₂CH₂OH)₂ react with methyl viologen with rate constants equal to (1.3 ± 0.1) × 10⁹ and (2.1 ± 0.4) × 10⁹M^?1 · s^?1, respectively, in wet acetonitrile at 300 K.