LOW-TEMPERATURE GAMMA-RADIOLYSIS OF UNSUBSTITUTED CROWN-ETHERS

EPR, NMR, field desorption, and IR spectroscopy have been used to inve stigate the intermediate and final products, formed in the gamma-irrad iation of unsubstituted crown ethers at 77 K. A mechanism of the radio lysis has been proposed, based on experimental data; in the gamma-radi olysis of the investigated compounds the rupture of the C-O bond of th e macrocycle occurs and H atoms are split off from the polyether ring. The radiation stability of the unsubstituted crown ethers decreases w ith increasing size of the macrocycle.