EPR study of gamma-irradiated 2-Bromo-4′-methoxyacetophenone single crystals

The gamma-irradiated single crystals of 2-Bromo-4'-methoxyacetophenone (2B4MA) were investigated using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) technique. Density-functional theory calculations were employed to investigate and identify the radicals that have been assumed to be formed upon irradiation of 2B4MA single crystals. The EPR spectra of 2B4MA were recorded at different orientations in the magnetic field at room temperature. Taking into account the chemical structure and experimental spectra of irradiated single crystal of 2B4MA, it was assumed that at least two different radicals were produced in the sample. Following this assumption, six possible radicals were modeled and EPR parameters were calculated by using the DFT, B3LYP/6-311+G(d), for the modeled radicals individually. The calculated hyperfine coupling constants and g-tensors were used as initial values for simulation studies. The three crystallographic axes on the simulated spectra were well matched with experimental spectra for the two modeled radicals. Thus, we identified the R1 type radical and R4 type radical as paramagnetic species produced in gamma-irradiated 2B4MA.