ESR Studies of Trapped CO2− Radicals in X-Irradiated Succinic Acid

Abstract

Studies of the $g$ tensor of the singlet in x‐irradiated succinic acid suggest that this line is due to the CO₂⁻ radical ion. Temperature‐variation studies indicate that this CO₂⁻ fragment arises from the decomposition of the anionic species [HOOCCH₂CH₂COOH]⁻ which appears to be formed in the initial radiation‐damage process. A mechanism rationalizing the ESR data on all irradiated carboxylic acids is proposed.