Interaction and reaction of the phenyl radical with water: a source of OH radicals

Angew Chem Int Ed Engl. 2009;48(26):4804-7. doi: 10.1002/anie.200806268.

Abstract

That's radical! A photochemical reaction between the phenyl radical and water results in the abstraction of a hydrogen atom from water and the formation of a hydroxyl radical. The hydroxyl radical forms an OHpi hydrogen bond with benzene (see picture) and does not react with benzene thermally under the conditions of matrix isolation.