Quantum chemical calculations by the semiempirical PM3 method are performed for halogen tert-butanes t-BuX (X = Cl, Br) and their radical anions in the gas phase and model polar solvent. It is shown that these radical anions are unstable in polar solvents. Potential energy surfaces for t-BuBr - . and t-BuI - . have shallow minima in the gas phase. In the range of the values of the distances R(C-halogen) from the equilibrium one R 0 to R 2.2-2.3 the potential curves fort -BuCl - . and t-BuBr - . may be well approximated by the exponential functions U f = B exp [- 2 β(R -R 0 )]. Activation energies and the values R * for the transitional configuration for the reactions t-BuX + e → t-Bu . + X - in the gas phase are calculated.