The electron spin resonance spectra of species resulting from the action of hydroxyl radicals on trishydroxymethylphosphine and related compounds

Abstract

Trishydroxymethylphosphine, trishydroxymethylphosphine oxide, and tetrakishydroxymethylphosphonium chloride have been allowed to react with hydroxy radicals, and the electron spin resonance spectra of the resulting species observed using a high-speed flow system. In all cases the only radicals observed were those due to abstraction of a hydrogen atom in the position α to the hydroxyl group, and for the phosphine, radicals arising from both the phosphorus-protonated and the non-protonated species could be detected. The values of the hyperfine coupling constants (¹H and ³¹P) are discussed.