PHASE EFFECTS IN THE RADIATION CHEMISTRY OF DL-CAMPHOR

The effect of mesomorphism on the radiation chemistry of the solid state is examined for the system dl-camphor, which has only a small entropy difference between the ..cap alpha.. and ..beta.. mesophases. The results of the radiolysis of these phases gave rise to the same products in both mesophases but with differences in the product G values in the two mesophases. These results are discussed in terms of the effect of phase on the overall mechanism for the formation of the observed products, which can be attributed to efficient abstraction reactions operative in the ..beta.. phase but not the ..cap alpha.. phase.