ESR examination of XeO4

An ESR examination of XeO4 in the vapor and solid states suggests that the ground state of this molecule is not a spin triplet as has been proposed for this molecule based on a semiempirical molecular orbital scheme. Solid XeO4 does exhibit paramagnetic states when subjected to ultraviolet radiation of wavelength less than 420±5 nm. The g values of these photoinduced states are consistent with the production of O2− ions and trapped electrons in the solid.