EPR STUDIES OF THE BISTABILITY IN CF3CNSSN

Condensation of CF3C(═NH)NH2 with SCl2 yielded the dithiadiazolylium salt, [CF3CNSSN]Cl which could be reduced to [CF3CNSSN]2 with Zn/Cu couple in SO2. [CF3CNSSN]2 is a diamagnetic dimer in the solid state but melts at 308 K to give a paramagnetic liquid. On cooling the radical enters a metastable state before immediately re-solidifying below 295 K. The thermal hysteresis was probed by EPR spectroscopy. Metastable samples spontaneously solidified after an induction period, typically between ca. 5 and 30 min, consistent with the variable time necessary to form a seed crystal from which crystallization can occur.