Spin trapping by use of nitrosodurene and its derivatives

In spin trapping the N-methyl-N-phenylaminomethyl radical with nitrosodurene, an esr spectmm exhibiting line width alternation was observed despite the normal spectral pattern found with the use of nitroso-tert-butane. Nitrosodurene derivatives, N-duryl nitrone and methyl N-duryl nitrone, have been revealed to be other excellent spin traps for the N-, 0-, and S-centered radicals. Spin adducts of these radicals, which can be independently prepared by spin trapping with nitrosodurene, are stable and can be easily discriminated by large differences in β-hydrogen splittings or characteristic patterns. Methyl N-duryl nitrone reacted with tert-butyl hydroperoxide to give a spin adduct which could be clearly distinguished in the esr spectra from the tert-butoxy adducts prepared independently from other sources. Accordingly, it seems to be the tert-butylperoxy adduct. Similarly, hydrogen peroxide gave a different spectrum from the hydroxy adducts. Alkyl hydroperoxides caused molecule-induced homolysis with the nitroso compounds to produce alkoxy adducts of the respective nitroso compounds. Some phenyl and duryl alkoxy nitroxides undergo decomposition to give alkyl radicals which were trapped by the nitroso compounds.