Unstable Intermediates Part 107.—Radiation Damage Products in Choline Chloride 1

Abstract

At 77 K the major radicals detected by e.s.r. in y-irradiated cholinechloride [Mc3N4CH2CH2OHCI ] are CH2CH2OH, as previously suggested, and a species containing one hydrogen and one chlorine atom, closely resembling C1OH“. The latter was lost on annealing. Irradiation at room temperature gave only the radical Me3N+, which was rotating at this temperature, but stationary at 77 K. A mechanism is outlined which could account for these radicals and for the chain mechanism of the decomposition.