Photolysis of naphtho[b]cyclopropene. Detection of a diradical intermediate

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(98)00053-7

Photolysis of naphtho[b]cyclopropene in hydrocarbons leads to products derived from hydrogen abstraction by a diradical. Photolysis in a cryogenic matrix allows ESR detection of this diradical, which has zero field splitting parameters D/hc = 0.057, E/hc < 0.0002 cm^-1.