The effect of gamma radiation of amino acid derivatives in the solid state: an EPR study

The spectroscopic features of free radicals produced in gamma irradiation of the N-methyl-dl – alanine, N,N – dimethyl glycine hydrochloride and d – (+) – galactosamine hydrochloride were investigated at room temperature at the dose 15?kGy using EPR technique. The paramagnetic species observed in these compounds were identified as CH₃?HCOOH, ?HOH(CHOH)₃NH₂(CH)₂O, and (CH₃)₂N?HCOOH.HCl, respectively. A comparison with a new paramagnetic species recently observed and characterized in irradiated amino acids indicates that the new radical presented here has a similar structure. In this paper, we have also studied the stability of these compounds at room temperature after irradiation.