Asymmetric line broadening in the electron resonance spectra of biradicals

Abstract
At high temperatures the dominant relaxation process which determines the linewidths in the electron resonance spectra of flexible biradicals is modulation of the scalar electron-electron exchange interaction. In systems of high viscosity, the modulation of the exchange interaction is often quenched, and the rotational modulation of the anisotropic magnetic interactions now constitutes the principal relaxation mechanism. In this paper we derive a theoretical expression for the broadening which results from this relaxation process. The applications of the theory to the determination of molecular configurations, electron-electron separations and the sign of the exchange interaction are illustrated by comparison with the electron resonance spectrum of bis(2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-piperidinol-1-oxyl)carbonate. The theory is also of value in understanding the spectra of partially immobilized biradical spin labels.

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