REARRANGEMENT STUDIES WITH C14: XVI. REARRANGEMENTS INDUCED BY γ -IRRADIATION OF 2-PHENYLETHYL-1-C14 BROMIDE OR 2-p-METHOXYPHENYLETHYL-1-C14 BROMIDE

Abstract

Irradiation of 2-phenylethyl-1-C14 bromide with up to 133 million rads of Co60 γ-rays gave 2-phenylethyl-2-C14 bromide with a mean Gr of 0.30 ± 0.01. Similar studies with 2-p-methoxy-phenylethyl-1-C14 bromide resulted in 2-p-methoxyphenylethyl-2-C14 bromide with a mean Gr of 0.46 ± 0.04. Monomeric, liquid organic products were found to be benzene, ethylbenzene, and styrene, or the analogous p-methoxy derivatives, from the irradiation of 2-phenylethyl bromide or 2-p-methoxyphenylethyl bromide, respectively. Possible mechanisms for the radiation-induced isotope position rearrangements are discussed.