The photochemistry of nitrosobenzene: Direct observation of the phenyl radical-nitric oxide triplet radical pair in argon at 12 K

Photolysis of nitrosobenzene monomer in an argon matrix at 12 K efficiently yields the phenyl radical and nitric oxide as a triplet radical pair, which are characterized by IR, UV, and ESR spectroscopy; these species recombine upon warming to 25-40 K to regenerate nitrosobenzene.