Kinetic and spectral properties of the intermediates formed in the pulse radiolysis of 2-mercaptobenzimidazole

The reactions of primary species of water radiolysis such as e^- _aq, H* and *OH, and some specific one electron reductants and oxidants with 2-mercaptobenzimidazole have been studied at various pHs. *OH radical reaction with MBZ at pH 7 gave a transient species having absorption maxima (λ_max) at 330 and 590 nm. The transient species (pK_a = 3.6) was found to be neutral at this pH and was a mild oxidant. The initial transient species formed by the reaction of MBZ with e^{- aq} at pH 7 and with H atom at pH 0 were found to react with the parent molecule to form another transient species which has an absorption spectrum similar to that obtained by *OH radical reaction with λ_max at 590 nm. However the reaction is not quantitative. The kinetic, spectral, acid-base and redox properties of the transient species are reported.