The kinetics of cyclization of the 2-methyl-6,6-diphenyl-5-hexeniminyl
radical (3) were measured by laser flash photolysis methods from 0 to
50 degrees C, and the kinetics of trapping of radical 3 by thiophenol
and p-chlorothiophenol were determined between 4 and 83 degrees C by
indirect methods using the unimolecular rate constants as the basis va
lues. Radical 3 cyclizes with a rate constant of 2.2 x 10(6) s(-1) at
25 degrees C and reacts with thiophenol and p-chlorothiophenol at this
temperature with rate constants of 0.6 and 1.4 x 10(7) M(-1) s(-1), r
espectively. Bu(3)SnH reacted with 3 too slowly to prevent nearly comp
lete cyclization, but a crude rate constant for the trapping reaction
was estimated. The cyclization and trapping reactions of iminyl radica
l 3 are slower than the corresponding reactions of alkyl radicals.