Singlet vinylidenes
(R
2
C=C:) are proposed as
intermediates in a series of organic reactions, and very few have
been studied by matrix isolation or gas-phase spectroscopy. Triplet
vinylidenes, however, featuring two unpaired electrons at a monosubstituted
carbon atom are thus far only predicted as electronically excited-state
species and represent an unexplored class of carbon-centered diradicals.
We report the photochemical generation and low-temperature EPR/ENDOR
characterization of the first ground-state high-spin (triplet) vinylidene.
The zero-field splitting parameters (
D
= 0.377 cm
–1
and |
E|
/
D
= 0.028)
were determined, and the
13
C hyperfine coupling tensor
was obtained by
13
C-ENDOR measurements. Most strikingly,
the isotropic
13
C hyperfine coupling constant (50 MHz)
is far smaller than the characteristic values of triplet carbenes,
demonstrating a unique electronic structure which is supported by
quantum chemical calculations.