Electronic structure and properties of hydroxyalkyl radicals

Quantum-chemical calculation using the MNDo method of hydroxymethyl and hydroxyethyl radicals and corresponding anion-radicals is made. Electron structure of radical particles differs considerably from the structure of initial alcohols. From the viewpoint of perturbation theory of molecular orbitals it is shown that noncoupled electron in hydroxyalkyl radicals and radical-anions occupies the loosening orbital. For this reason the above-mentioned particles easily enter the reactions of electron transfer on the acceptor and are not active in reactions of break-off and addition via binary bond. Theoretical concepts are confirmed by experimental data, obtained when studying gamma-radiolysis of methanol solution in water and in 5M NaOH aqueous solution (dose rate is 0.478 Gy/s, dose range is 0.796-4.293 kGy)