Abstract

The carbonate radical (Co3·) is of biological significance acting as an intermediate in free radical-mediated damage and is capable of oxidising amino acids and proteins. In order to distinguish between the four possible structures of Co3·, nanosecond timeresolved resonance Raman (TR3) experiments were undertaken. Photolysis of persulphate at 250 nm generated the So4· radical which then oxidised sodium carbonate. Resonance Raman spectra of the resulting Co3· radical were obtained using a probe wavelength of 620 nm. Point group theory calculations and interpretation of the TR3 spectra suggest that the radical has C2v molecular symmetry.