Studies on the reactivity of ˙OH radicals in non-aqueous solvents using laser flash photolysis

Abstract

The reactivity of ^˙OH radicals toward stable molecules in acetonitrile has been studied using laser flash photolysis. ^˙OH radicals have been generated by 260 nm photolysis of H₂O₂ and the rate of their disappearance was measured using N,N-dimethyl-p-nitrosoaniline as acceptor. It has been established that in acetonitrile ^˙OH radicals manifest high reactivity towards ethylbenzene and its oxidation products (1-phenylethanol, 1-phenylethyl hydroperoxide, acetophenone). The corresponding rate coefficients were in the range 10⁶–10⁷ dm³ mol^–1 s^–1 and were lower than such coefficients observed in aqueous solutions.