Recoil Reactions of Tritium with Organic Compounds

Abstract

After "coolinx", the hot tritium atoms formed above thermal energies by nuclear reactions abstract or replace hydrogen atoms, and replace subytituents X (e.g. alkyl, NH2, N02, OH, COOH, F, Cl, Br, or I ) in organic compounds. Isotope eJfects have been obserwd for protonated vs. deuterated compounds in several hot reactions. Models and mechanisms are discussed for the abstraction and replacement, for specific reactions on certain carbon atoms, and for the isotope ejects. These are based on steric, bond-energy, and kinetic considerations.

Dielectric measurements with time-domain reflectometry when large conductivities are involved

“…2-6 Earlier investigations of the relative yields of halogen reactions such as (1) have served as the basis for theories concerning the nature of these energetic processes. [11][12][13][14] Earlier experiments have demonstrated that the ob- Our present experiments have sought additional information about reaction 1 with X = F, C1, Br, and I and lead to the conclusion that the relative yields of these substitution reactions increase markedly with decreasing C-X bond strength.…”

A New Approach to Some Aspects of Recoil Tritium Chemistry

“…A great deal of experimental data has been collected in recent years and several excellent reviews have summarised the development of this ever-growing field of study [1,2,3], Particular attention has been paid to the study of recoil tritium chemistry, largely due to the efforts of F. S.…”

“…ROWLAND [3], D. S. URCH [2] and the late RICHARD WOLFGANG [1,4]. At one time it seemed that a general agreement on the nature of recoil tritium reactions with simple molecules was within easy reach [5], However, in recent years a number of experimental results have been reported which have led to considerable disagreement and confusion.…”

Radioactive bromine labeling via gas chromatography

“…In 1934, Szilard and Chalmers were the first to describe a direct chemical consequence of a nuclear reaction (8). They showed that neutron irradiation of liquid ethyl iodide yields water extractable, radioactive iodine.…”

“…The chemical consequences of such reactions have been studied in great detail in a multitude of different systems and these studies have lead to the modern kinetic concept of "hot atom reactions" (6)(7)(8).…”