CLEAVAGE RATES FOR RADIOLYSIS-PRODUCED RADICAL-ANIONS OF NAPHTHYLMETHYL PHENYL ETHERS AND NAPHTHYL BENZYL ETHERS

Cleavage reactions of alpha- and beta-naphthylmethyl phenyl ethers and of alpha- and beta-naphthyl benzyl ethers were studied by pulse radio lysis. Transient spectra indicate that reactions occur via electron ca pture followed by cleavage of the resultant radical anions to give ary lmethyl radicals and aryloxide ions. Product studies of extensively ir radiated samples are consistent with this scheme and show patterns whi ch are informative for radiation studies in general. The reactions wer e studied in several solvents. The behavior of transient spectra obtai ned in acetonitrile for these ethers shows clearly that radical anions of the naphthylmethyl ethers cleave more rapidly than do the radical anions of the naphthyl benzyl ethers.