Indirect detection of carbenes by electron spin resonance: triplet trapping

Abstract

Transient triplet carbenes have been converted into relatively long-lived iminoxyls by reaction with nitric oxide and hence been detected indirectly by e.s.r. spectroscopy. The process is formally analogous to spin trapping of monoradicals by nitrones and nitroso-compounds. Triplet nitrenes could not be trapped in this way.