EPR Studies of (3, 5-di-t-Butyl-0-Benzoquinone) Tetracarbonylrhenium(0) Radical

The organometallic radical: (3,5-di-t-butyl-0-benzoquinone)tetracarbonyl-rhenium(0) and its triphenylphosphine substituted derivatives were studied by EPR spectroscopy. The unpaired electron is shown to be localized in the organic 1,2-diketone ligand. The rate of carbonyl substitution by triphenylphosphine at the unsubstituted rhenium radical indicates a second order reaction. The activation parameters are ΔH* =19.1±0.8Kcal/mole and ΔS*-3.0±1.5 eu/mole.