Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 3, 2026

Measurement of Ultrafast Vibrational Coherences in Polyatomic Radical Cations with Strong-Field Adiabatic Ionization
Published on: August 6, 2018
Organic free radicals in clathrate hydrates investigated by muon spin spectroscopy
Paul W Percival1, Mina Mozafari, Jean-Claude Brodovitch
1Department of Chemistry and TRIUMF, Simon Fraser University , Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada.
Abstract:
Very little is known about the behavior of free H atoms and small organic radicals inside clathrate hydrate structures despite the relevance of such species to combustion of hydrocarbon hydrates. Muonium is an H atom analog, essentially a light isotope of hydrogen, and can be used to probe the chemistry of H atoms and transient free radicals. We demonstrate the first application of muon spin spectroscopy to characterize radicals in clathrate hydrates. Atomic muonium was detected in hydrates of cyclopentane and tetrahydrofuran, and muoniated free radicals were detected in the hydrates of cyclopentene and 2,5-dihydrofuran, indicating rapid addition of muonium to the organic guest. Muon avoided level-crossing spectra of the radicals in hydrates are markedly different to those of the same radicals in pure organic liquids at the same temperature, and this can be explained by limited mobility of the enclathrated radicals, leading to anisotropy in the hyperfine interactions.
More Related Videos
10:34Exploring the Radical Nature of a Carbon Surface by Electron Paramagnetic Resonance and a Calibrated Gas Flow
Published on: April 24, 2014
08:01Rapid Scan Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Opens New Avenues for Imaging Physiologically Important Parameters In Vivo
Published on: September 26, 2016
Related Concept Videos
Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) Spectroscopy: Organic Radicals
Radicals: Electronic Structure and Geometry
Accordingly, the structure of a trivalent radical lies between the geometries of carbocations and carbanions. An sp2-hybridized carbocation is trigonal planar, while an sp3-hybridized carbanion is trigonal pyramidal. Here, the difference in geometry is...
¹H NMR: Interpreting Distorted and Overlapping Signals
As Δν decreases and the signals move closer, the doublets appear increasingly distorted. The intensities of the inner lines increase at the cost of those of the outer lines as the signals are...
NMR Spectroscopy: Spin–Spin Coupling
¹H NMR of Conformationally Flexible Molecules: Temporal Resolution
Other Nuclides: 31P, 19F, 15N NMR
While fluorine-19 and phosphorous-31 have high natural abundances (100%) and positive gyromagnetic ratios, nitrogen-15 has a low natural abundance and a negative gyromagnetic ratio. However, nitrogen-15 is still preferred over nitrogen-14 (which has a...