Paramagnetic Resonance of Radicals in Decomposed Solid N-Methyl-N. 2,4,6 Tetranitroanililne (Tetryl)

Electron paramagnetic resonance studies of uv decomposed solid N methyl N, 2,4,6-tetranitoanililne (tetryl), C₆(NO₂)₃ H₂ (CH₃ NNO₂) measured dissolved in benzene show the presence of a six line spectrum which can be accounted for by an unpaired electron interacing equally with three hydrogen nuclei with an isotropic spliltting of 10 Gauss and one nitrogen nuclei also with a splitting of 10.0 G. Studies of the radical in powders and single crystals show the g and A tensor and axial with diagonal components A ₁₁ = 27.0 G., A ₁ = 4.0 G. and g ₁ = 2.007 and g ₁₁ = 2.003. The spectrum is shown to be a nitroxide radical of tetryl, C₆(NO₂)₃H₂ (CH₃NO). The radical is stable at room temperature trapped in the solid the lattice but in a solution of benzene loses the CH₃ forming another radical.