Terunobu Wakayama

Effect of Matrix on the Formation of Solvent Radicals in the Radiolysis of Alkanes in the Solid State at 77 K

The effect of the matrix on the radiolysis of 2,3-dimethylbutane, neopentane. 2,2-dimethylbutane, and isobutane in the solid state has been studied at 77 K by means of ESR spectroscopy. Though only the ·CH2CH-(CH3)CH(CH3)2 radical is formed by the γ-irradiation of 2,3-dimethylbutane in the I crystal, the CH3\overset·C(CH3)-CH(CH3)2 radical is formed by the γ-irradiation of 2,3-dimethylbutane in the II crystal. Though the t-C4H9 and neo-C5H11 radicals are formed by the γ-irradiation of pure neopentane, the formation of radicals is affected appreciably by the addition of a small amount of alkanes. When neopentane containing ethane, etc. is γ-irradiated, the solute radical is mainly formed by energy transfer form the γ-irradiated neopentane to the solute. Most of the solutes have a spherical molecular structure like that of neopentane or are smaller than neopentane. When neopentane containing 3-methylpentane, etc. is γ-irradiated, only the neopentyl radical is formed. The molecular structures of the solutes ...