Radical cations of cis and trans isomers of 1,3-di-and 1,3,5-tri-methyIcyclohexane, stabilized in various y-irradiated solute-halocarbon matrices at 77 K and above, have been investigated b y means of EPR spectroscopy. The hfs constants have been compared w i t h those calculated using semiempirical methods, I NDO (spin density) and MN DO (geometry optimizations). The SOMOs of the methyl-substituted cyclohexane cations are all similar t o either of the orbitals, a, or b, , following a Jahn-Teller split of the e, orbital (HOMO) of cyclohexane. The selection of SOMO depends on matrix and isomer. The trans isomers have one axial methyl group and the cations were found to take an a,-like SOMO in all matrices used, with large spin density o n the equatorial hydrogen attached t o the axially substituted ring-carbon. Using CF,CCI, as matrix the EPR signal due to the trans-l,3,5-trimethylcyclohexane cation contains (in addition) a spectrum of the b,-like SOMO superimposed. The cation of cis-I ,3-dimethylcyclohexane shows contributions from both SOMOs in the matrices CF,-cC,F,,, CF,CICFCI, and CF3CCI3, but exclusively a b,-like SOMO in cC6F12. A b,-like SOMO is observed for the cis-l,3,5-trimethylcyclohexane cation in all matrices. The abundance ratios, [a,]/[b,],for the cases where the matrix-stabilized cation shows contribution from both b,and a,-like SOMOs simultaneously, are found t o be ca. 1/4 from line shape simulations. No prominent temperature dependence of this ratio is detected. 'A" ( C,) A'(C,) 'A" (C,) 'A'(C,) ' A' ( C J 'A'K,) ' A" (C,) 'A"(C,)36 (2 H); 29 (2 H) 93 (2 H); 12 (2 H ) 38 (2 H); 29 (2 H) 107 (1 H); 64 (1 H); 35 ( I H) * 1 cal = 4.184 J.