Electron spin resonance study of the reactions of hydrogen atoms with carboxylic acids and amides in sulphuric acid glasses

Abstract

Reactions of hydrogen atoms with carboxylic acids and amides have been investigated in 6 mol dm^–3 sulphuric acid glasses. The radicals CH₃ĊHCO₂H, CH₃Ċ(OH)CO₂H, ĊH₂COCO₂H, ĊH₂CONH₂, CH₃CONHĊH₂ and CH₃CONHĊHCO₂H have been identified in 6 mol dm^–3 H₂SO₄ samples containing acrylic acid, lactic acid, pyruvic acid, acetic acid, acetamide, N-methyl-acetamide and acetylglycine, respectively. Electron transfer occurs from Fe^II to amides on u.v. illumination, since ClCH₂CO₂H yields ClĊHCO₂H whereas ĊH₂CONH₂ is the predominant radical formed from ClCH₂CONH₂.