Pulse Radiolysis of Fast Reactions in Molecular Systems. Progress Report, November 1979-September 1980

Book excerpt: The rates of elementary chemical reactions in irradiated solutions are being studied by observation of reactive intermediates using the pulse radiolysis technique. Optical absorption spectra of these transient species, which determine the course of the chemistry, are being obtained. The types of reactive species currently of interest are organic molecule ions (both cations and anions) and radical ions, and transition metal carbonyl radicals in solution. Since reaction is initiated by a pulse of high energy electrons, our investigations inherently relate to radiation chemical systems. The information obtained is, however, also of interest in various areas of organic reaction kinetics in which ionic species are known to play a central role. The rectivity of the transition metal carbonyl radicals is of interest in the area of homogeneous catalysis. Current activities involve: spectra and reactivities of transition metal carbonyl radicals of the type M(CO)5; reactivity of organic ionic species (including carbocations and carbanions) in irradiated solutions.