Studies on reactions of α-hydroxyalkyl radicals derived from n-propanol and n-butanol with nicotinic acid: estimation of their reduction potential

Reactions of α-hydroxyalkyl radicals derived from n-propanol and n-butanol with nicotinic acid were studied by pulse radiolysis techniques. In these reactions adducts of α-hydroxyalkyl radicals and nicotinic acid are formed. Rate constant for these reactions were determined. These adducts were found to decay by uni-molecular pathway giving the pyridinyl radicals. From the earlier obtained linear plot of rate constants for adduct formation versus the reduction potentials of α-hydroxyalkyl radicals of 2-propanol, ethanol and methanol, reduction potentials of α-hydroxyalkyl radicals of n-propanol and n-butanol were estimated. (author)