Change with temperature of the ESR spectra of methacrylic acid radicals

In order to elucidate the structure of methacrylic acid radicals, the change with observation temperature of the ESR spectrum of free radicals trapped in solid methacrylic acid γ-irradiated at ?196°C was studied. Below ?80°C, we found a 9-line spectrum, which is similar to the ordinary 9-line spectrum observed in irradiated poly(methacrylic acid) or poly(methyl methacrylate), but which differs in the stronger intensity of the so-called 4-line component. Our 9-line spectrum changes reversibly into a 13-line spectrum above ?80°C. With broad-line NMR measurements of methacrylic acid, it was found that there is such an unusual crystalline transition around ?30°C that the line width is narrower in the lower-temperature region (phase II) than that in the higher-temperature region (phase I). The change of the ESR spectrum can be interpreted in terms of the exchange of the two β-protons due to the hindered oscillation around the C_α? C_β bond of the single radical ···C_βH₂C_α(CH₃)COOH if one assumes the gradual change of the hindering potential barrier caused by the crystalline transition and the lower barrier in phase II. The modified Bloch treatment gave the hindering potential barrier to be 7.2 kcal/mole in phase I and 1.5 kcal/mole in phase II. The difference between our 9-line spectrum and the ordinary one with the very weak 4-line component comes from the difference of the surrounding matrix.     

ESR study on free radicals trapped in crosslinked polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)

Free radicals in crosslinked PTFE which formed by ⁶⁰Co γ-rays irradiaion at 77 K and at room temperature were studied by electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy. The crosslinked PTFE specimens with different crosslinking density were prepared by electron beam irradiation in the molten state. The ESR spectra observed in the irradiated crosslinked PTFE are much different from those in non-crosslinked PTFE (virgin); a broad singlet component increases with increasing the crosslinking density, G-value of radicals is much higher in crosslinked PTFE than in non-crosslinked one. Free radicals related to the broad component are trapped in the non-crystalline region of crosslinked PTFE and rather stable at room temperature, whereas radicals trapped in amorphous non-crosslinked PTFE are unstable at room temperature. It is thought that most of free radicals trapped in the crosslinked PTFE are formed in the crosslinked amorphous region. The trapped radicals decays around 383 K (110°C) due to the molecular motion of -relaxation.     

Polymer radicals trapped in radical-initiated polytetrafluoroethylene

The electron spin resonance (ESR) spectra of polymer radicals found to be trapped in polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) polymerized with radical initiators were comparatively examined under various conditions and assigned. They are identified as the primary (propagating) radicals RCF₂CF₂·, which are transformed to primary peroxy radicals RCF₂CF₂OO· in the atmosphere. Studies of the rates of polymerization and postpolymerization and ESR measurements indicate that the radical content steadily increases during polymerization. The results are discussed in connection with the mechanism of polymerization of tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) and the unusual thermal stability of these radicals in PTFE prepared with initiator.     

Analysis of ESR spectra of fluorocarbon radicals in irradiated tetrafluorethylene

ESR spectra in irradiated tetrafluoroethylene were studied. It was found that during radiolysis at 77 K several types of radicals are formed. The spectra of two types of radicals were established and were preliminarily interpreted as the spectra of fluorine atoms and CF₃-CF₂ radicals.     

ESR study of the rotation of peroxy radicals in polymers

The nature and the frequencies of rotation of peroxy radicals in polyethylene and polytetrafluorethylene are determined over a wide temperature range theoretically calculated ESR spectra.     

The structure and spectra of organic peroxy radicals

Recent spectroscopic and computational work on organic peroxy radicals, RO(2), is reviewed and extended with an emphasis on radicals where R is an alkyl group. Detailed experimental spectral, structural relationships are developed and show the dependence of spectral properties on the number of carbon atoms in the radical, and its isomeric and conformeric structure. These empirical relationships are explored and rationalized with the help of a series of quantum chemistry calculations, which are in turn benchmarked by the experimental data. The application of the spectra as a diagnostic for sensitive and selective measurement of radical concentrations for different RO(2) species in an isomer- and conformer-specific manner is described. Future areas of research including investigation of additional peroxy species and high resolution spectra of cold radicals are discussed.     

ESR spectra of phosphorus-containing tetrazonyl radicals

Conclusion The oxidation of the products of the reaction of dialkylphosphorylacetaldehydes with aryldiazonium salts gives tetrazonyl radicals.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 5, pp. 1168–1169, May, 1987.     

ESR spectra of irradiated polyacrylic acid

In view of the interest in acrylic acid co-polymerized with other polymers by radiation to promote enhanced crosslinking, a knowledge of the intermediate reaction products is highly desirable. ESR techniques have been used to study the nature and stability of the radicals formed. Acrylic acid was polymerized by exposure to gamma radiation; the nature of the radicals, their decay at various temperatures, and the effect of inhibitors were investigated.The ESR spectrum at room temperature is similar to that described by earlier workers; its dependence on temperature and impurities, as well as its decay, were investigated. From this work, there is reason to believe that the described triplet also contains a central singlet of ΔH_ms19 G; the addition of impurities to the acrylic acid causes the triplet to decay more rapidly, thus leaving the predominant singlet mentioned above. It was also found that the lines in the outer “wings” of the irradiated specimen disappear on heating; at the same time a new line, possibly a singlet of ΔH_ms131 G, either became more intense or more obvious. Some tentative explanations of this behaviour are advanced.     

An ESR study of the decay reaction of isotactic polypropylene peroxy radicals in air

The decay of peroxy radicals trapped in irradiated isotactic polypropylene has been studied by ESR in air at various temperatures between 284 and 309 K. All the ESR spectra obtained at the various reaction stages are shown to be composed of two components arising from a mobile fraction and an immobile fraction. Only the mobile peroxy radicals decay; those belonging to the immobile fraction are stable. Various reaction mechanisms are examined in order to explain the experimental results; it is concluded that the decay reaction is controlled by diffusion of peroxy radicals and that the immobile peroxy radicals play no role in the decay reaction. Intermolecular hydrogen abstraction of the peroxy radicals, rather than intramolecular abstraction, is suggested as the rate-determining reaction.     

Computer-simulated ESR spectra of irradiated poly(olefin oxides)—effect of glass transition temperature on the ESR spectra

Investigations on the effects of γ irradiation on poly(methylene oxide) (POM) and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) have been made employing electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy. The ESR sextet and doublet spectra, recorded for POM and PEO, respectively, on irradition in air at room temperature are broadened as the temperature is lowered and show a reversible change in line shape with temperature. The spectra are analyzed by computer simulation, employing Lorentzian line-shape functions and the least-squares method of total curve fitting. The component spectra are evaluated and are assigned. Superposition of the component quartet, triplet, and doublet spectra, corresponding to the radicals ?H₃, ?H₂O , and O?HO , respectively, together with a singlet due to the radicals ?CH₂ is considered to be the best fit to the observed spectrum for POM. The doublet spectrum recorded for PEO has been assigned to the radicals ?HO . The reversible broadening of the spectra has been associated with the mechanism of molecular motions around the glass transition temperatures of these polymers.     

ESR study of the generation and decay of peroxy radicals in mechanically destructed polyamide 6

Polyamide 6 has been mechanically destructed in vacuo. At -70°, the ESR spectrum corresponds to the sum of the component spectra of three radicals NH?HCH₂, ·CH₂NHCO, and ·CH₂CONH. After introducing air into the ampoule, the spectrum changes even at -70°; the changes have been studied up to 0°. The spectrum of the peroxy radical ROO· (with line width 1.57 mT, g₁ = 2.0089 and g_| = 2.0301) predominates.     

ESR spectra and the behavior of substituted indophenoxyl radicals

ESR spectra and structure are compared for radicals formed from substituted indophenols by oxidation (substituents CH₃, i-C₃H₇, t-C₄H₉, t-C₅H₁₁, cyclohexyl). The unpaired electron interacts with the nitrogen and with the hydrogen in the ortho and meta positions of both benzene rings. A kinetic equation of first order with respect to the indophenol applies to the reaction of the latter with benzoyl peroxide. The loss of indophenoxyl radicals in benzene obeys an equation of second order in the radical concentration. The rate constants for radicals with various substituents indicate the radical stability, which falls greatly in going from ones with ortho-t-alkyl substituents to ones with less highly branched groups.     

ESR studies of the photodegradation of polyethylene containing trapped allylic free radicals

Changes produced in γ-irradiated polyethylene by subsequent ultraviolet irradiation have been investigated by ESR measurements, ultraviolet spectroscopy, and viscometric determination of average molecular weight. The photoinduced changes depend on the wavelength of irradiation. Upon irradiation at wave length greater than 3900 Å, main-chain scission occurs by reaction of trapped allylic radicals: A reduction in molecular weight sndicated by this reaction was verified by fractionation experiments and molecular weight determinations.     

ESR studies of trapped free radicals and polymer deposition in xylene plasmas

Rates of polymer deposition and radical trapping in xylene plasmas produced in a Siemens tube with 60-Hz current decreased linearly with increasing flow rate but increased linearly with power and decreased in the order ortho > meta > para at a constant flow rate and pressure. These results indicate that radical recombination and disproportionation are unimportant and that the polymerization rate equation is first order in free radical concentration.     

ESR spectra of anion radicals of phenazine derivatives

The ESR spectra are reported for electrolytically generated radicals. The hyperfine structure is found to be due to primary interaction of the unpaired electron with two nitrogen atoms, the quintet being then split by the ring protons. A quantum calculation of the spin density agrees satisfactorily with the results.