Publication costs assisted by Rockwell InternationalIn-situ electron spin resonance-electrochemical measurements have been used to measure the rate constants for the dimerization of diethylfumarate, dimethylfumarate, cinnamonitrile, and fumaronitrile radical anions in dimethylformamide solution. The mechanism was found to be second order in radical anion with rate constants for these reactions at 23°of 33, 160, 2100, and >10® M-1 sec-1, respectively. Both the mechanism and the rate constants agree with values from electrochemical studies. The applicability of controlled current pulse with simultaneous esr detection for elucidation of reaction mechanism is demonstrated.