Isotropic and anisotropic chlorine hyperfine coupling of dichloro-dicyano benzoquinone anion radical

The ESR spectrum of 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano benzoquinone anion has been recorded in the isotropic and in the nematic phase of liquid crystal solvents. In the isotropic phase it shows splitting only by two 14N nuclei, while in the nematic phase at high orientation degree, the pattern is that expected for hyperfine coupling with two chlorine nuclei. The orientation of the free radical in the nematic solvent is inferred from the variation of the 14N splitting. The chlorine anisotropic coupling is used to get the unpaired electron spin density on the chlorine π orbital and the isotropic coupling is discussed in terms of a relationship analogous to that proposed by Karplus and Fraenkel for 13C. © 1976.