Free Radicals Formed by H Atom Addition to Allenes as Determined by Muon Spin Spectroscopy

Allyl and vinyl radicals are important intermediates in diverse areas of chemistry, ranging from combustion to syn-thesis. However, questions remain about the competitive formation of these radicals from allenes. Here we present a study of proto-typical allyl and vinyl radicals formed by H atom addition to allenes. They were studied by forming the analogous muonium ad-ducts, since muonium (Mu) behaves as a light isotope of hydrogen, and muoniated species can be characterized by muon spin spec-troscopy. Two techniques were employed: Transverse-Field Muon Spin Resonance (TF-μSR), and Muon Level Crossing Reso-nance (μLCR), which allow for the measurement of muon hyperfine constants (hfcs) and other nuclear hfcs, respectively, and thus aid identification of the formed radicals. TF-μSR has already been used to determine that two radicals are formed by Mu addition to 1,1-dimethylallene, but μLCR techniques were undeveloped at the time of that study, so assignments were based on ESR data of similar allyl and vinyl radicals. We report here the muon spin spectroscopy of multiple radicals detected from positive muon irradi-ation of 1,1-dimethylallene and 1-methoxyallene in solution. The radicals were identified by comparison of muon and proton hfcs with ESR data and the results of DFT calculations. The conclusion is that muonium (and by extension, the H atom) can add to all three carbons of the allene system, albeit with preference for the central carbon

Characterization of free radicals in clathrate hydrates of pyrrole, thiophene and isoxazole by muon spin spectroscopy

Gas hydrates have long been of interest to the petrochemical industry but there has been growing interest in potential applications for carbon dioxide sequestration and hydrogen storage. This has prompted many fundamental studies of structure and host-guest interactions, but there has been relatively little investigation of chemical reactions of the guest molecules. In previous work we have shown that it is possible to use muon spin spectroscopy to characterize H-atom-like muonium and muoniated free radicals formed in clathrate hydrates. Muonium forms in clathrate hydrates of cyclopentane and tetrahydrofuran, whereas furan and its dihydro- derivatives form radicals. The current work extends studies to clathrates hydrates of other 5-membered heterocycles: thiophene, pyrrole and isoxazole. All form structure II hydrates. In addition to the clathrates, pure liquid samples of the heterocycles were studied to aid in the assignment of radical signals and for comparison with the enclathrated radicals. Similar to furan, two distinct radicals are formed when muonium reacts with thiophene and pyrrole. However, only one muoniated radical was detected from isoxazole. Muon, proton and nitrogen hyperfine constants were determined and compared with values predicted by DFT calculations to aid the structure assignments. The results show that Mu adds preferentially to the carbon adjacent to the heteroatom in thiophene and pyrrole, and to the carbon adjacent to O in isoxazole. The same radicals are formed in clathrates, but the spectra have broader signals, suggesting slower tumbling. Furthermore, additional signals in the avoided level-crossing spectra indicate anisotropy consistent with restricted motion of the radicals in the clathrate cages

Characterization of Free Radicals in Clathrate Hydrates of Furan, 2,3-Dihydrofuran and 2,5-Dihydrofuran by Muon Spin Spectroscopy

In addition to their importance as abundant hydrocarbon deposits in nature, clathrate hydrates are being studied as potential media for hydrogen and carbon dioxide storage, and as “nano-reactors” for small molecules. However, little is known about the behaviour of reactive species in such materials. We have employed muon spin spectroscopy to characterize various organic free radicals which reside as isolated guests in structure II clathrates. The radicals are formed by reaction of atomic muonium (Mu) with the guest molecules: furan and two isomeric dihydrofurans. Muonium is essentially a light isotope of hydrogen, and adds to unsaturated molecules in the same manner as H. We have determined muon and proton hyperfine coupling constants for the muoniated radicals formed in the clathrates and also in neat liquids at the same temperature. DFT calculations were used to guide the spectral assignments and distinguish between competing radical products for Mu addition to furan and 2,3-dihydrofuran. Relative signal amplitudes provide yields and thus the relative reactivities of the C4 and C5 addition sites in these molecules. Spectral features, hyperfine constants and reactivities all indicate that the radicals do not tumble freely in the clathrate cages in the same way that they do in liquids. &nbsp

Free Radical Reactivity of a Phosphaalkene Explored Through Studies of Radical Isotopologues

Muonium (Mu), an H atom analogue, is employed to probe the addition of free radicals to the P=C bond of a phosphaalkene. Specifically, two unprecedented muoniated free radicals, MesP•-CMu(Me)2 (1a, minor product) and MesPMu-C•Me2 (1b, major product), were detected by muon spin spectroscopy (µSR) when a solution of MesP=CMe2 (1: Mes = 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl) was exposed to a beam of positive muons (µ+). The µ+ serves as a source of Mu (i.e. Mu = µ+ + e–). To confirm the identity of the major product 1b, its spectral features were compared to its isotopologue, MesPH-C•(Me)CH2Mu (2a). Conveniently, 2a is the sole product of the reaction of MesPH(CMe=CH2) (2) with Mu. For all observed radicals, muon, proton and phosphorus hyperfine coupling constants were determined by µSR and compared to DFT-calculated values

Free Radical Chemistry of Phosphasilenes

Understanding the characteristics of radicals formed from silicon-containing heavy analogues of alkenes is of great importance for their application in radical polymerization. Bulky and electronic substituent effects in such compounds as phosphasilenes not only stabilize the Si=P double bond, but also influence the structure and species of the formed radicals. Herein we report our first investigations of radicals derived from phosphasilenes with Mes (2,4,6-trimethylphenyl), Tip (2,4,6-triisopropylphenyl), Dur (2,3,5,6-tetramethylphenyl) and NMe2 (dimethylamino) substituents on the P atom, using muon spin spectroscopy and DFT calculations. Adding muonium (a light isotope of hydrogen) to phosphasilenes reveals that: a) the electron-donor NMe2 and the bulkiest Tip-substituted phosphasilenes form several muoniated radicals with different rotamer conformations; b) bulky Dur-substituted phosphasilene forms two radicals (Si- and P-centred); and c) Mes-substituted phosphasilene mainly forms one species of radical, at the P centre. These significant differences result from intramolecular substituent effects

Investigation of H atom and free radical behaviour in clathrate hydrates of organic molecules

Clathrate hydrates are icy materials composed of a lattice of water molecules containing well-defined cavities which can accommodate small guest molecules. Their large storage capacity makes clathrates attractive media for a variety of gas storage and separation applications, but there is relatively little information on the chemical stability and diffusion of guest molecules. At the fundamental level inter-cage transition energies have been calculated, but the results need to be tested with experimental data. Ideally this should involve single-atom transport, using an isotopic tracer or spin label. Muonium (Mu = µ+e–) qualifies on both counts. As a single-electron atom with the muon as nucleus it may be considered a light isotope of hydrogen. Furthermore muonium and its reaction products may be monitored by muon spin spectroscopy. In recent years we have used this method to probe H-atom and free radical behaviour in clathrate hydrates. The current work extends studies to benzene and acetone clathrate hydrates. Of note is the simultaneous detection of muonium and muoniated radicals in the same sample. This can happen when Mu is trapped in an empty cavity, remote from its reaction partner. Increase in temperature leads to transport of Mu between cages and results in encounters with reactive guest molecules. By studying the temperature dependence of Mu and radical signals, we have been able to determine the activation energy for transport of Mu between cavities

A mapping approach to synchronization in the "Zajfman trap": stability conditions and the synchronization mechanism

We present a two particle model to explain the mechanism that stabilizes a bunch of positively charged ions in an "ion trap resonator" [Pedersen etal, Phys. Rev. Lett. 87 (2001) 055001]. The model decomposes the motion of the two ions into two mappings for the free motion in different parts of the trap and one for a compressing momentum kick. The ions' interaction is modelled by a time delay, which then changes the balance between adjacent momentum kicks. Through these mappings we identify the microscopic process that is responsible for synchronization and give the conditions for that regime.Comment: 12 pages, 9 figures; submitted to Phys Rev