A Pulse Radiolysis Study of the Reaction of the Sulfate Radical Ion in Aqueous Solutions of Styrene

Abstract

The ultraviolet absorption spectra of the transient species formed during the pulse radiolysis of styrene and peroxydisulfate (S₂O₈²)solutions showed that a benzyl-type radical was formed from styrene and the SO^4- radical. The effect of adding Cl^- was also studied. These results are in conflict with the claim1 that a phenylethyl radical was formed from SO₄^-' via the styrene cation radical. That study was made on acetonitrile solutions of styrene, S₂O₈^2-, CuCl₂ and LiCl and the present results suggest that up to 70% of the SO₄^-' radicals may have been converted into Cl₂^-1 radical which then reacted with styrene.