Journal of Physical Chemistry A, Vol.112, No.51, 13427-13431, 2008
Spectroscopic Evidence of Jet-Cooled o-Chloro-alpha-Methylbenzyl Radical in Corona Excitation
We report the first spectroscopic evidence of the o-chloro-alpha-methylbenzyl radical. The electronically hot but jet-cooled o-chloro-alpha-methylbenzyl radical was formed from precursor o-chloro-ethylbenzene seeded in a large amount of inert carrier gas helium, by employing the technique of corona excited supersonic expansion with a pinhole-type glass nozzle. The vibronic emission spectrum was recorded with a long path monochromator in the D-1 -> D-0 electronic transition in the visible region. By comparing the observed spectrum with that of the o-chlorobenzyl radical reported previously, we could easily identify the spectroscopic evidence of the jet-cooled o-chloro-alpha-methylbenzyl radical generated in the corona discharge of o-chloro-ethylbenzene, from which the electronic transition energy and several vibrational mode frequencies in the ground electronic state were accurately determined.