The electron spin resonance spectra of the free radicals arising from the action of Fenton's reagent on the methyl and ethyl esters of phosphoric and phosphonic acid

Abstract

The electron spin resonance spectra of free radicals arising from the action of hydroxyl radicals on trimethyl and triethyl phosphate, dimethyl and diethyl phosphonate, sodium dimethyl and sodium diethyl phosphate, dimethyl methylphosphonate, diethyl ethylphosphonate, and diethyl methyl phosphate have been studied in a flow system. In all cases the radicals observed are those due to abstraction of a hydrogen atom from the carbon atom adjacent to the oxygen in the ester grouping. The ¹H and ³¹P hyperfine coupling constants are discussed.