Naphthalene radicals, electron spin resonance

The reaction involves the transfer of an electron from the alkali metal to naphthalene. The radical nature of the anion-radical has been established from electron spin resonance spectroscopy and the carbanion nature by their reaction with carbon dioxide to form the carboxylic acid derivative. The equilibrium in Eq. 5-65 depends on the electron affinity of the hydrocarbon and the donor properties of the solvent. Biphenyl is less useful than naphthalene since its equilibrium is far less toward the anion-radical than for naphthalene. Anthracene is also less useful even though it easily forms the anion-radical. The anthracene anion-radical is too stable to initiate polymerization. Polar solvents are needed to stabilize the anion-radical, primarily via solvation of the cation. Sodium naphthalene is formed quantitatively in tetrahy-drofuran (THF), but dilution with hydrocarbons results in precipitation of sodium and regeneration of naphthalene. For the less electropositive alkaline-earth metals, an even more polar solent than THF [e.g., hexamethylphosphoramide (HMPA)] is needed. 

The electron spin resonance (ESR) spectra of the radical ions of 230 indicate there are no large deviations from the free-electron g value that would have been expected had the 3d orbitals of the sulfur atom played an important part in influencing the spin density of the molecule. Consequently, structure 230 may not be the main contributor to the electronic structure of the compound. Such stability in this compound could be attributed to the inertness of the NSN group and the presence of the aromatic naphthalene ring. However, the H-NMR chemical shifts (8 = 4.45 ppm) suggest the compound is antiaromatic. The compound is therefore referred to as an ambiguous aromatic compound (78JA1235). 

The solution becomes an intense green, and an electron spin resonance (ESR) measurement at this point confirms the presence of the naphthalene radical anion. Addition of styrene at this stage causes the color of the solution to change to red and the ESR signal disappears. The styryl radical anion formed initially is correctly viewed as a resonance hybrid (Eqs. 22.38 and 22.39). 

---