Kinetics of hydrogen isotope exchange reactions. Part XVIII. Aliphatic exchange induced by β-radiation on aqueous solutions of alcohols

Abstract

A pcH-independent β-radiation-induced hydrogen exchange reaction has been observed for aqueous solutions of t-butyl alcohol containing greater than 8 Ci/l of tritium as part of the solvent. Repeated gas-chromatographic separations of t-butyl alcohol isolated from these solutions lead to the conclusion that the tritiated species is t-butyl alcohol with tritium in the methyl groups. The amount of exchange is proportional to radiation dose, and increases with increasing concentration of substrate, apparently towards a limiting maximum rate.

Comparable exchange reactions are observed with isopropyl alcohol and cyclohexanol.