Pulse radiolytic investigations of some peroxyhydroxycyclohexadienyl radicals

The absorption spectra and decay kinetics of the peroxy OH and H adduct of phenol have been studied using the pulse radiolysis technique. Both peroxy radicals decompose by a first-order reaction. O/sub 2/C/sub 6/H/sub 5/OH(OH) decomposes to HO/sub 2/ and a product which partly forms hydroquinone after some intramolecular rearrangement. In alkaline deaerated solutions of phenol disproportionation of phenoxyl radicals produces benzosemiquinone radical anions. Formation of this transient is suppressed by the presence of O/sub 2/. The reaction rate constants of C/sub 6/H/sub 5/OH(OH), C/sub 6/H/sub 5/OH(H), C/sub 6/H/sub 5/O, C/sub 6/H/sub 4/(OH)/sub 2/(H), and C/sub 6/H/sub 4/(OH)/sub 2/(OH) radicals with oxygen have been determined.