Experimental determination of electron affinities. Part 11.—Electron capture by some cyanocarbons and related compounds

Abstract

A number of cyanocarbons and related compounds have been studied by the magnetron technique and observed to capture electrons directly. These molecules have electron affinities in the range 1–3.5 eV and show evidence for an additive relationship between the number of CN subsituents and the electron affinity. The measured electron affinities are related to the energy of the charge-transfer band in charge-transfer complexes with pyrene and to the reversible one electron-polarographic reduction potentials. The electron affinities measured are related to the work done in bringing the electron up to the molecule against the external field of the dipolar substituents.