Quenching of triplet states of diazines by H-atom donors. Formation of azyl radicals

The laser flash photolysis of pyrazine in water and in organic solvents has been examined. The ³(n, π^*) state in water has absorption bands at 230, ≈ 260, ≈ 295, ≈ 640, 700 and 810 nm, and decays with k = 2.2 × 10⁵ sec^?1. It is quenched by oxygen with k_q = 3.2 × 10⁹ M^?1 sec^?1 and by various H-atom donors, e.g., k_q = 1.3 × 10⁸ M^?1 sec^?1 for isopropyl alcohol. On reaction with H-atom donors, the chemistry of ³(n, π^*) pyrazine produces the neutral pyrazyl-radical and the dihydro radical cation, whose characteristic absorption spectra have been identified. These results are discussed by comparison with ³(π, π^*) diazines and with ³(n, π^*) aromatic carbonyl compounds.