Determination of end-to-end distances in oligomers by pulsed EPR

Conformations of end-labeled alkanes in a rigid polymer matrix were investigated using the pulsed double electron-electron resonance (DEER) method. To this end, dipolar spectra of a series of aliphatic dicarbonic acids with 8-20 methylene units and chain ends bifunctionalized with nitroxide radicals were recorded in a polystyrene matrix. The biradicals are derived from hindered amine light stabilizers (HALS), used as polymer additives. Analysis of the dipolar spectra allows the determination of the end-to-end distances of the oligomer biradicals. The experiments show that the ''flexible'' alkane chains are almost completely stretched. This observation is consistent with the results of force field calculations.