Esr studies on the reactive character of the radical anions,so−2, so−3 and so−4 in aqueous solution

The reactive characteristics of the oxy anion radicals of sulphur, SO^?₂, SO^?₃ and SO^?₄ were investigated by use of the rapid-mixing flow technique coupled with electron spin resonance (ESR) which can detect the radicals having a lifetime of 5–100 msec. The SO^?₂ reduced the aromatic nitro compounds to the corresponding anion radicals, but did not abstract the hydrogen from the saturated compounds nor add to the unsaturated compounds. The SO^?₃ could add to the compounds having CC bond, but did not abstract the hydrogen from the saturated compounds nor reduce the aromatic nitro compounds. The SO^?₄ could abstract the hydrogen from the saturated compounds and also add to the unsaturated compounds having CC bond, but did not reduce the aromatic nitro compounds. These differences of the reactivity towards the organic substrates were discussed on the basis of the difference in the distribution of the unpaired electron density of each radical anion.