Spectroscopic evidence of α,α-dimethylbenzyl radicals in the gas phase

Abstract We report the spectroscopic evidence of the jet-cooled α,α-dimethylbenzyl radical, which was generated in a technique of corona excited supersonic expansion using a pinhole-type glass nozzle. For identification of the α,α-dimethylbenzyl radical, precursors that form a common molecular radical, as a result of dissociation of either a C H bond or C C bond of alkyl group in a corona discharge, were employed. Based on comparisons of the spectra observed from the corona discharges of isopropylbenzene and tert -butylbenzene, evidence was obtained of the existence of the α,α-dimethylbenzyl radical in the gas phase.