Electron spin resonance studies. Part XXXV. The generation, and some reactions, of the radicals ·PO32–, ·PO2OH–, HPO2˙–, and PhPO2˙– in aqueous solution

Abstract

Four phosphorus-containing radicals (·PO₃^2–, ·PO₂OH^–, HPO₂˙^–, and PhPO₂˙^–) have been generated in aqueous solution by the abstraction of hydrogen from the parent anions and have been characterised by their e.s.r. spectra; the electronic structure of PhPO₂˙^– contrasts markedly with that of PhNO₂˙^–. The radicals add readily to many olefinic compounds, oximes (to give nitroxides), and nitroalkane aci-anions; the resulting e.s.r. spectra provide information about the conformational preferences of the adducts and the angular dependence of the hyperfine interaction with ³¹P.