An in situ study of the thermal decomposition of 2,2′-azobis(2-methylpropionitrile) radical chemistry using a dual-mode EPR resonator

A custom-built dual-mode EPR resonator was used to study the radical chemistry of AIBN thermal decomposition. This resonator enables both simultaneous in situ heating using microwaves and EPR measurements to be performed. The thermal decomposition of AIBN was compared following conventional heating methods and microwave-induced (or dielectric) heating methods. Under both heating conditions, the radicals formed and detected by EPR include the 2-cyano-2-propyl (CP?) and 2-cyano-2-propoxyl (CPO?) radicals. Under aerobic conditions, the observed relative distribution of these radicals as observed by EPR is similar following slow heating by conventional or dielectric methods. In both conditions, the kinetically favoured CPO? radicals and their adducts dominate the EPR spectra up to temperatures of approximately 80-90 degrees C. Under anaerobic conditions, the distribution can be altered as less CPO? is available. However, the observed results are notably different when rapid heating (primarily applied using a MW-induced T-jump) is applied. As the higher reaction temperatures are achieved on a faster timescale, none of the ST?-CPO adducts are actually visible in the EPR spectra. The more rapid and facile heating capabilities created by microwaves may therefore lead to the non-detection of radical intermediates compared to experiments performed using conventional heating methods.

Automated summary

A custom-built dual-mode EPR resonator was used to study the radical chemistry of AIBN thermal decomposition. The results showed that the distribution of radicals observed by EPR varied under different heating conditions. Microwave-induced heating provided faster and easier heating capabilities but may lead to the non-detection of radical intermediates.