Radiolytic Generation of Radical Cations in Xenon Matrices. Tetramethylcyclopropane Radical Cation and Its Transformations

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/j100370a080

Radiolytic generation of radical cations in xenon matrices containing electron scavengers is illustrated by studying the 1,1,2,2-tetramethylcyclopropane radical cation.Dilute and concentrated solutions of tetramethylcyclopropane in xenon without electron scavengers and neat tetramethylcyclopropane yielded neutral radicals upon γ-irridation.Speculation on the mechanisms of radical formation is presented.The radical species observed in the γ-irridation of neat tetramethylcyclopropane appears to be identical with the paramagnetic species observed in CF2ClCFCl2 above 120 K, suggesting that a neutral radical rather than the ring-opened distonic radical cation is observed in the CF2ClCFCl2 matrix.