RESONANT RADIOFREQUENCY MAGNETIC-FIELD EFFECTS ON A CHEMICAL-REACTION

Observations of the effect of a radiofrequency magnetic field on the p rogress of a chemical reaction are reported. It is shown that the fluo rescence of an exciplex formed in the photoreaction of anthracene-d(10 ) and 1,3-dicyanobenzene (DCB) is attenuated when a 30-40 MHz oscillat ing field is applied. The effect is interpreted in the framework of th e radical pair mechanism, in terms of a change in the extent of single t <-> triplet interconversion in the (anthracene cation-DCB anion) rad ical pair when the oscillating field is in resonance with hyperfine sp littings in the DCB anion radical. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.