Free radicals generated in photocatalytic oxidation of some organic compounds containing nitrogen atoms

Free radical intermediates generated in photocatalytic oxidation of some organic compound containing nitrogen atoms such as butylamine，piperidine，pyridine and so on were detected by spin trapping technique．The ESR spectra of N-centered radical adduct and C-centered radical adduct were observed．Experiment results reveal that these radicals are participants in the initial steps of photodegradation of these compounds． A mechanism which is consistent with the observation of these radicals species is elucidated．