Substituent effects on benzylic radical hydrogen hyperfine coupling constants. Part 4. The effect of branching of the alkyl substituent

The effects of substituents in the meta and para positions of the benzyl radical on the α-hydrogen hyperfine coupling constants (hfc's) are discussed. The electron spin resonance (esr) spectra of the para-methyl, ethyl, isopropyl, and tert-butyl substituted benzyl and cumyl radicals are analysed. Hyperconjugation involving the C—C bond is 40–60% as effective as C—H hyperconjugation for delocalizing spin density. This conclusion is supported by INDO molecular orbital calculations. Similar analysis of the 13Cmr spectra of the para-alkyl substituted cumyl carbocations provides evidence that C—C hyperconjugation is 75–90% as effective as C—H hyperconjugation for delocalizing charge density.