ON THE PHOTOCHEMISTRY OF X-RAY PRODUCED RADICALS TRAPPED IN FROZEN ETHANOL MATRICES

Abstract— Ethanol and ethanol-water matrices were exposed to X-rays at 77K and the photochemistry and paths of radical conversion were investigated by EPR methods. The main X-ray induced radical, CH3?HOH, is probably photoionized by 254 nm light. The following radicals are produced during prolonged UV-irradiation of CH₃?HOH radicals: ?H₃, ?HO, H and 2 types of radicals giving singlet EPR spectra. One of these radicals (d) is bleachable with 580 nm light, ?H₃ and ?H₃?HOH being formed during the bleaching, the other one (e) is unbleachable and the most stable radical in the matrix during annealing. The CH₃ radicals decay at 77 K (τ∽ 10 min) and produce CH₃-CHOH radicals and the unbleachable radical (e). Stable H-atom signals were seen in X-irradiated ethanol-water mixtures (volume ratio 2:1) at 77 K. The H-atom signals increased during photobleaching of the trapped electrons in the matrix and during UV-photolysis of CH₃CHOH radicals.