FORMATION AND STABILIZATION OF RADICAL PAIRS IN THE QUINONE-PYROCATECHOL-POLYMER SYSTEM

The formation of radical pairs (RP) in solid mixtures of 3,6-di-tert-b utyl-o-quinones (Q) and 3,6-di-tert-butylpyrocatechol (QH(2)) under th e action of shock-wave (SW) pulses was studied by ESR and IR spectrosc opy. The radical pairs are formed only when a threshold value of SW po wer is achieved. The generation of RP is preceded by the formation of hydrogen-bonded associates QH(2)...Q upon intimate mixing and fine dis pergation of the reagents in a SW field. The incorporation of the reag ents into a polymeric matrix favors the formation of associates and st abilization of the pairs, which leads to a decrease in the SW power th reshold.