The methyl radical has the formula CH.
The problem is to prepare the methyl radical, trap it, and to study it.
These can in analogy to the combination of methyl radicals to Ethane combine to Dimanganese decacarbonyl.
They, however, mistook the product of these reactions for methyl radical, rather than the dimer of methyl, ethane.
When two methyl radicals recombine, the result is ethane:
However, transition state energies depend both on the presence of A(1,3) strain and on steric hindrance associated with the incoming methyl radical.
In this last experiment tetramethyllead is decomposed at elevated temperatures to methyl radicals and elemental lead in a quartz tube.
His work in this field led to an increased understanding of the methyl radical.
Work on cacodyl led Bunsen to the postulation of methyl radicals.
The removal of a hydrogen atom from methane makes a methyl radical.
