EPR/ENDOR study of an X-irradiated single crystal of: 1-triphenylphosphoranylidene-2-propanone: The role of hydrogen bonds in the trapping of radiogenic radicals
a Department of Physical Chemistry, 30 Quai Ernest Ansermet, 1211, Geneva, Switzerland
b Laboratory of Crystallography, 30 Quai Ernest Ansermet, 1211, Geneva, Switzerland
Abstract:
As shown from the crystal structure, the oxygen atom of Ph3P=CH---C(O)CH3 forms both intra and intermolecular hydrogen bonds. X-irradiation of this compounds produces a room-temperature-stable radical which was studied by single crystal EPR/ENDOR spectroscopy. Comparison of the experimental hyperfine couplings with those obtained from ab initio calculations shows that the radical cation Ph3P+---CH=C(OH)CH2 is formed under radiolysis. The principal directions of the hyperfine tensors indicate that, in this process, some of the hydrogen bonds are broken and that the radical undergoes a drastic reorientation around the Ph3P---C bond.