Electron spin resonance study of spin-trapped azide radicals in aqueous solutions

Organic spin traps have been used to study the formation of azide radicals during the reaction of azide anions with hydroxyl radicals. The azide radicals have been successfully trapped with three spin traps: 5,5-dimethylpyrroline-1-oxide (DMPO), phenyl-N-tert-bulyl nitrone (PBN), and 4-pyridyl-N-tert-butyl nitrone (PyBN). The azide radicals produced from 15N sodium azide have also been trapped. The hyperfine splittings of the resulting radicals have been determined.