The electron spin resonance spectra of radicals formed from hydroxyl radicals and simple esters of formic, phosphorous, phosphoric, and methylphosphonic acids

Abstract

The e.s.r. spectra of a number of radicals formed by oxidising water-soluble esters with hydroxyl radicals have been measured and analysed. Attack takes place mainly at the α position of the alkyl group, but β and possibly also γ attack occurs; attack on the acyl C–H of formates has been detected.

For the radicals formed from the esters of phosphorus-containing acids the hyperfine splitting due to phosphorus has been measured and, in terms of current theories, the electron spin densities at the phosphorus-containing groups have been evaluated.