A detailed study of the ESR of potassium, rubidium, and cesium benzenide solutions is described. The g values, metal hyperfine splitting (hfs), and line widths have been measured as a function of solvent, temperature, and metal ion. The g values have been found to depend upon the alkali metal, the temperature, and the solvent. In the case of potassium benzenide, the metal hfs depends upon the temperature and may to a very small extent depend upon the solvent. Estimates of the rubidium and cesium metal hfs are presented. The ESR line width in the case of potassium benzenide is shown to be dependent upon the solvent and the temperature. These various phenomena are strongly suggestive of the existence of an alkali metal ion-benzene anion radical pair. A model for the ion pair is proposed in which the metal ion is placed on the sixfold axis of the benzene anion radical. However, for the temperature dependent effects upon the g values and metal hfs to be observed it is necessary for the metal ion to oscillate parallel to the plane of the benzene ring but with an average position centered on the benzene sixfold axis. MO calculations are presented to show that the expected experimental observations calculated on the basis of the model presented are consistent with the actual experimental observations.
IntroductionThe purpose of the study which is described here is to characterize the molecular and electronic structure of the benzene anion radical-alkali metal cation pair. Previous