Electron diffraction, allyl radical

The allyl radical would be expected to be planar in order to maximize n delocalization. Molecular structure parameters have been obtained from EPR, IR, and electron diffraction measurements and confirm that the radical is planar. ... 

Later, successful determination of the molecular structure of the free allyl radical was achieved by high-temperature electron diffraction, augmented by mass spectrometry studies (Vaida et al., 1986). The structural parameters obtained for the allyl radical were rcc 142.8 pm, rcH 106.9 pm, accc 124.6°, ccH 120.9°. This was the first electron diffraction study of an unstable organic molecule. 

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