Alternating line widths in the electron spin resonance spectrum of the hydroxymethyl radical

Abstract

The hydroxymethyl radical, ·CH₂OH, has been observed during the photolysis of di-t-butyl peroxide in methanol. At low temperatures the e.s.r. spectrum exhibits line-width alternation and at –130 °C the inequivalence of the methylene protons is fully resolved. The activation energy for rotation of the hydroxy-group is estimated to be 9·5 ± 1·5 kJ mol^–1.