ELECTRON SPIN RESONANCE OF GROUP-4 ORGANOMETALLIC ALKYL RADICALS IN SOLUTION

Esr spectra have been obtained from a series of alkyl derivatives of group IV metals-silicon, germanium, and tin-by hydrogen abstraction with photochemically generated t-butoxy radicals. Abstraction occurs predominantly from the carbon atom α to the metal. In the tetraethyl derivatives, abstraction from the carbon atom β to the metal is also observed. Radicals produced by the latter process have also been observed by addition of trialkylmetal radicals to ethylene. The trends in the coupling constants for these series of α- and β-substituted alkyl radicals are discussed. In the methoxy derivatives of analogous organometallic compounds abstraction occurs from the ethereal methyl group. Line-broadening effects caused by hindered internal rotation are also reported. © 1969, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.