An Estimate of the Lifetime of 1,4-Dioxybutane Biradicals

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/jo00276a007

Previous kinetic data for the thermolysis of 1,2-dioxetanes has suggested a biradical or biradicaloid decomposition route, but direct evidence for a biradical intermediate has been lacking.We now report the trapping of a 1,4-dioxybutane biradical in the thermolysis of 3,3-dimethyl-1,2-dioxethane, where the lifetime is estimated to be in the range of 30-75 ps.Attempts to trap biradicals from the thermolysis of trimethyl- and tetramethyl-1,2-dioxethane were used unsuccessful, and it was estimated that the maximum lifetimes of these biradicals were 7 ps.