071102-3
A radical zwitterion in water
J. Chem. Phys. 122, 071102 ͑2005͒
On the other hand, the stretching motion of the CX bond
which is strengthened and acquires a partial double bond
character ͑-character͒ at the cost of the CO or CN bonds
At very high acid concentration in solution, further pro-
tonation occurs. In 16 M acid solution, the singly protonated
cation radical still persists, but additional signals at slightly
different frequencies also appear. On subtraction of the
mono-cation radical signals from the spectrum, the differ-
ence spectrum that is obtained is shown in Fig. 1͑d͒. This
spectrum is not of the hydroquinone cation radical or its
−
1
also contributes towards the ϳ1409 cm mode, particularly
when X=O or N. The resonant electronic transitions in these
*
radicals are � transitions. It is the -component of the
bonds that can possibly change on electronic excitation.
Therefore, the -bond order of the CO or CN bonds quali-
tatively correlates with the relative intensities of the ϳ1505
and ϳ1409 cm− modes. To summarize, the simple qualita-
2
proton-adduct, indicating that hydrolysis of the amine group
has not occurred. The 8aCC frequency shifts upwards by
1
−1
−1
21 cm to 1652 cm , a general trend that we observe on
−
1
2,11
tive description of the complex ϳ1505 and ϳ1409 cm
formation of radical cations. However, the relative Raman
−
1
−1
modes presented here, which was established on the basis of
the systematic experimental studies of closely related sys-
tems, explains why the strength of the ring-substituent bonds
has only a small effect on the vibrational frequencies, but a
drastic effect on their relative enhancement in the resonance
intensities of the 1519 cm and the 1396 cm modes are
not significantly affected and, in that respect, the spectrum
remains similar to that of the mono-cation form of the radi-
cal. It should be pointed out that the proton adduct of the
mono-cation form of the p-aminophenoxyl radical is ex-
11
+
Raman spectra. In p-aminophenoxyl radical, the contribu-
tremely short-lived which implies that the H -bonding is ex-
−
1
tions of the CO and CN stretches to the 1432 cm mode are
comparable. In the following discussion we will use the neu-
tral p-aminophenoxyl radical as reference for interpreting the
observed spectral trends that occur on addition or loss of a
proton from the radical.
tremely weak in the dication radical. However, in 16 M
H SO solution, the dication radical is formed at a rate faster
2
4
than its decay rate which gives it dynamic stability and al-
lows observation on the microsecond time scale.
The amine-N, hydroxyl-O, and the ring are the sites
where proton addition to the mono-cation form of the
In very basic solutions ͑e.g., 8 M KOH͒, the
+
2
•
NH -deprotonated anion form of the radical is observed ͓Fig.
p-aminophenoxyl radical ͑HO-=NH ͒ may occur. How-
2
1
͑a͔͒. The chemical species that are seen in this strongly
ever, protonation of amine-N, where a large fraction of the
positive charge on the radical resides, or hydroxyl-O, is not
consistent with the observed spectrum. If N or O-protonation
−
9
basic solution are very short-lived ͑Ͻ10 s͒ in pure water
from which they abstract a proton and disappear by protona-
tion. However, in the presence of very high base concentra-
tion ͑Ͼ1 M͒ in solution, their formation rate from the neutral
radical can exceed their rate of decay, facilitating observation
of the equilibrium concentration on a much longer time
scale, as in the present case. NH and O largely share the
negative charge on the radical, forming three-electron
+
occurred, one would essentially observe an H N -substituted
3
+
+•
+
phenol cation ͑H N -=OH ͒ or an H O -substituted
3
+
2
+•
2
aniline cation ͑H O -=NH ͒ radical. The formation of the
ϾC=OH or ϾC=NH double bonds in such species would
transfer the unpaired -electron density from OH /NH to
2
+
+
2
1
6
+
+
2
the ring. The -electron density, however, cannot be effec-
1
7
+
-bonds through the ring. Because of the higher electrone-
tively shared by the substituent groups, such as -NH or
3
+
2
gativity of O, a slightly more electronic charge resides on it
than on NH, which may be the reason why a slightly lower
-OH , which lack vacant p orbitals to accommodate the
electron. The sharing requires the capability to form a
bond. Therefore, the spectrum would be closer to that of the
aniline cation ͑NH ͒ or phenol cation radical ͑OH ͒,
with a significant drop in the 8aCC frequency. The ob-
1
9
−
1
1
frequency ͑1385 cm ͒ of the CN/CO stretching mode than
in the neutral radical is observed. The 1385 cm−1 band is
+•
2
+•
−
1
20
about three times more intense than the 1482 cm band,
which suggests almost comparable CO and CN -bond or-
served spectrum does not display these characteristics.
−
1
ders. The 8aCC frequency ͑1593 cm ͒ in the anion radical is
It can be readily visualized that loss of -electron from
1
5
+•
closer to that of a hydroquinone structure. To our knowl-
edge, this is a rare example of deprotonation of a neutral
the HO-vNH2 radical ͑oxidation͒ would produce a
quinone-like structure and increase the 8aCC frequency. The
sharing of the unpaired -electron on the ring by the proton
amounts to a partial loss of electron from the ring, without a
change in the oxidation state. Therefore, an increase in the
8aCC frequency should occur. Since the frequency of the
1
8
amine observed in water.
The neutral radical protonates on its O ͓Fig. 1͑c͔͒ in
1
3
mildly acidic solutions ͑pHϽ2.2͒. The 8aCC frequency
−
1
͑
-
1631 cm ͒ remains virtually unchanged. However, the C
−
1
NH bond becomes significantly stronger than in the neutral
species. As a result, the 1519 cm mode containing the CN
stretch becomes more prominent in the spectrum, as com-
1396 cm mode containing the CO stretch is lower than in
the mono-cation form of the radical, the proton must add to
2
−
1
the ring -system on the side of the -OH group ͑HO-͑H͒
−
1
+•
2
pared to the 1406 cm mode that contains the C-OH stretch.
The cationic form of the p-aminophenoxyl radical is more
appropriately described as the p-hydroxy-aniline cation radi-
cal, with a major fraction of the positive charge on the amine
group. Thus, p-aminophenoxyl, a nominal oxy radical, be-
comes an amine radical on proton addition. The
O-protonation of the p-aminophenoxyl radical in moderately
=NH ͒, thus reducing the -component of the CO bond and
the frequency. A -bonding must be ruled out, as the CO
bond would become comparable to or weaker than a single
bond and a far greater reduction in the CO frequency would
be expected. In the cation form of the p-benzosemiquinone
+
•
radical anion ͓͑HO==OH͒ ͔, proton addition occurs to
the ring -system at the center. It is not surprising that in a
+
•
acidic solution and -NH deprotonation in very basic solu-
relatively less symmetric HO-=NH2 radical, the proton
addition to the ring -system occurs closer to the OH side, as
2
tions are chemical consequences of a zwitterionic structure.
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