ESR Lab Activity

Introduction

We are going to collect an ESR spectrum from a series of substituted hydroquinones.

Name	SDS	Molar Mass	Sigma Product Number	Cost
A = Hydroquinone (aka. 1,4-benzohydroquinone)	SDS	110.11 g/mol	H9003	22.90 / 100g
B = Methylhydroquinone	SDS	124.14 g/mol	112968	59.20 / 250g
C = 2,3-dimethylhydroquinone	SDS	138.16 g/mol	300756	118.00 / 5g

Experimental

Beaker Method

• Solution A: 1 M NaOH; 1 gram NaOH (39.997 g/mol) into 25 mL EtOH.
• Solution B: 1 M hydroquinone solution.
• Procedure: To 2 ml of 1 M hydroquinone solution add 2-3 drops of solution A. A color change will indicate the reaction has occurred. Quickly transfer colored sample to ESR sample tube, place in ESR spectrometer, tune, and collected data.

Flow Method

• Solution A: 0.05 M NaOH; 0.05 grams NaOH (39.997 g/mol) into 25 ml EtOH.
• Solution B: 1 M hydroquinone solution.
• Procedure: Prepare two 60 ml syringes, 1 with solution A and 1 with solution B.
• Degas the syringe that contains solution B
• Attach to double syringe drive
• Turn on double syringe drive that is attached to ESR
• Collect data

Double Syringe Drive

Results

1-electron Oxidation of Hydroquinone

This is the EPR spectrum of the "hydro-semiquinone" (aka. 1,4-benzosemiquinone)

1-electron Oxidation of Methylhydroquinone

This is the EPR spectrum of the "methyl-hydro-semiquinone" (aka. methyl-semiquinone)