Spectroscopic Identification of Isomeric Trimethylbenzyl Radicals Generated from 1,2,3,4-Tetramethylbenzene

The visible vibronic emission spectrum was recorded from the corona discharge of precursor 1,2,3,4-tetramethylbenzene with a large amount of inert carrier gas helium using a pinhole-type glass nozzle coupled with corona excited supersonic expansion. The spectrum showed a series of vibronic bands in the $D_1{\rightarrow}D_0$ electronic transition of jet-cooled benzyl-type radicals formed from the precursor in a corona excitation. The analysis confirmed that two isomeric radicals, 2,3,4- and 2,3,6-trimethylbenzyl radicals, were produced as a result of removal of a hydrogen atom from the methyl group at different substitution positions. For each isomeric product, the electronic transition and a few vibrational mode frequencies were determined in the ground electronic state.