Cation-radicals: formation of methoxy-radicals by photochemical and thermal oxidation of methanol

Abstract

Spin-trapping experiments with the nitrone, N-benzylidene-t-butylamine N-oxide (I) and 2-methyl-2-nitrosopropane (IV) have demonstrated that methoxyradicals are important intermediates in photochemical oxidations of methanol by paraquat dichloride, uranyl nitrate, potassium peroxydisulphate, and lead tetraacetate; in the γ-radiolysis of methanol; and in thermal oxidation by potassium peroxydisulphate.