Laser flash photolysis of [3,n]paracyclophan-2-ones. Direct observation and chemical behavior of 4,4'-(1,n-alkanediyl)bisbenzyl biradicals

The 4,4'-(1,n-alkanediyl)bisbenzyl biradicals (2b-d) have been generated from the Norrish type-I reaction of 3,n]paracyclophan-2-ones (1b-d) giving the paracyclophanes 3b-d as the only reaction products. The behavior of biradicals 2b-d has been studied in detail and compared with the previously reported biradical 2a. The lifetimes increase as the chain length decreases and are affected by the solvent viscosity, thus showing the effect of the length of the chain on the conformations of the biradicals. Quenching with persistent radicals such as TEMPO resulted in length-dependent rate constants. Finally, the study of the magnetic field effects on the biradical lifetimes suggest that ISC control determines biradical lifetimes for long-chain systems.