Photochemical Studies. XVI. Second Moment Analysis of the Electron Spin Resonance Spectra of Radicals Formed by Ultraviolet Irradiation of 9-Phenylacridine and of Acridine

Abstract

The irradiation of 9-phenylacridine in methanol, ethanol, or ether leads to the formation of the 9-phenylacridinyl radical. In methanol-d₄, the radical formed is the singly deuterated analog. The structure of these radicals, which exhibit a hyperfine structure in their e.s.r. spectra measured at 233 °K, is supported by simulation of the spectra using calculated spin densities. The agreement between the experimental and theoretical second moment values of the deuterated radical indicates that the parameters previously chosen for the calculation of the theoretical second moments of pyridinyl-type radicals derived from six-membered ring azaaromatics are suitable and that the second moment method can be used in studies of radicals of this type. We conclude that acridine irradiated in methanol-d₄ leads to the formation of the singly deuterated acridinyl radical.