Radiolysis of carboxylic compounds. Part 1.—Comparison of potassium acetate and acetic acid radiolysis

Abstract

Measurement of the yields of CO₂, CO, H₂, CH₄, C₂H₆ and of trapped paramagnetic species reveals substantial differences in the radiolysis of CH₃COOH and CH₃COOK both at room temperature and 77 K. Microwave power saturation of e.s.r. spectra in both CH₃COOH and CH₃COOK was observed. Anion radical (CH₃COOH)^– is the main trapped paramagnetic species in CH₃COOH at 77 K; an additional structure at microwave power below 15 µW was discovered. In irradiated CH₃COOK the radical · CH₂COO^– was found as a main paramagnetic species; in addition to that a quartet assigned to · CH₃ radical and a broad singlet were observed. The temperature dependence of the final product yields and of paramagnetic species is also presented. The possible reasons for the differences observed in the radiolysis of both compounds are discussed.