Spectroscopic evidence of jet-cooled p-chloro-α-methylbenzyl radical in corona excitation

Abstract

We report the first spectroscopic evidence of the jet-cooled p-chloro-α-methylbenzyl radical. The visible vibronic emission spectrum was recorded from the corona discharge of precursor p-chloro-ethylbenzene seeded in a large amount of inert carrier gas helium using a pinhole-type glass nozzle coupled with a technique of corona excited supersonic expansion. From the comparison with the vibronic spectrum of the p-chlorobenzyl radical, we identified the evidence of formation of the jet-cooled p-chloro-α- methylbenzyl radical in the corona discharge of precursor p-chloro-ethylbenzene.