High-resolution electron spin resonance spectroscopy of ethyl radicals in solid parahydrogen

Electron spin resonance spectroscopy of molecules in large precessional motion: a case of H6(+) and H4D2(+) in solid parahydrogen

We have measured electron spin resonance (ESR) spectra of H6+ and H4D2(+) ions produced in gamma-ray irradiated solid parahydrogen. Anisotropic hyperfine-coupling constants for H6(+) and H4D2(+) determined by the analysis of ESR lines at 4.2K were -0.06 and -0.12 mT, respectively, which were opposite in sign to and much smaller than theoretical results of 1.17-1.25 mT. Although no change was observed in H6(+), the constant for H4D2(+) increased to be 1.17 mT at 1.7 K, which is very close to the theoretical value. We concluded that H6+ both at 4.2 and 1.7 K and H4D2(+) at 4.2K should be in a large precessional motion with the angle of 57-59 degrees, but the precession of H4D2(+) is stopped at 1.7 K.

Fourier transform millimeter-wave spectroscopy of the ethyl radical in the electronic ground state

The pure rotational spectrum of the ethyl radical (C2H5) has been detected for the first time with the Fourier transform millimeter-wave spectrometer. The ethyl radical is produced by discharging the C2H5I gas diluted in Ar. The 1(01)-0(00) rotational transition of the ethyl radical is observed in the frequency range from 43,680 to 43,780 MHz. The observed spectrum shows a very complicated pattern of the fine and hyperfine structures of a doublet radical with the nuclear spins of five protons. The fine and hyperfine components are assigned with the aid of measurements of the Zeeman splittings. As a result, the 22 lines are ascribed to the transitions in the ground vibronic state (A2"). The rotational constant, the spin-rotation interaction constant, and hyperfine interaction constants are determined by the least-squares fit. The Fermi contact term of the alpha-proton is determined to be -64.1654 MHz in the gas phase, indicating that the structure of the -CH2 is essentially planar. The present rotational spectroscopic study further supports that the methyl group of the ethyl radical can be regarded as a nearly free internal rotor with a low energy barrier. A few unassigned lines still remain, which may be vibrational satellites of the internal rotation mode.