ESR STUDY OF THE TRICYCLOHEXYLMETHYL RADICAL

The ESR spectrum of the tricyclohexylmethyl radical was obtained from tricyclohexylmethyl chloride and was studied in solution in the range 275-455 K. It has a half-life of about 30 min at room temperature, The complex hyperfine structure of the radical was analysed with the help of MNDO/UHF calculations. Hyperfine interactions with three beta prot ons, twelve gamma protons and six delta protons were resolved, The alp ha and the three beta carbon atoms are coplanar, The temperature depen dence of the beta and six of the gamma proton hyperfine interactions w as ascribed to torsional motions of the cyclohexyl rings about the C-a lpha-C-beta bond, The radical has C-3h symmetry, the C-alpha and C-bet a atoms being coplanar. Evidence for the existence of hexacyclohexylet hane at about 200 K was obtained for the first time.