Photochemical decomposition of energetic materials: observation of aryl benzyloxy nitroxide and aryl benzyl nitroxide radicals in solutions of 1,3,5-trinitrobenzene and toluene and their deuteriated analogues at 200 K

Electron spin resonance spectroscopy is used to probe the photodecomposition of 1,3,5-trinitrobenzene (TNB) in toluene. The photodecomposition is conducted at 200 K with solutions containing TNB and toluene along with solutions containing their deuteriated analogues. primary radicals observed in the decomposition have structures consistent with 3,5-dinitrophenyl benzyloxy nitroxide moieties. These radicals are proposed to be precursors to 3,5-dinitrophenyl benzyl nitroxide radicals previously observed in both photochemical and thermal decomposition.