The electrochemical study of N-tert-butoxy-2,4-diphenyl-6-tert-butylphenylaminyl (1a), N-tert-butoxy-2,4-bis(4-chlorophenyl)-6-tert-butylphenylaminyl (1b), N-[2-(methoxycarbonyl)-2-propyl]-2,4-diphenyl-6-tert-butylphenylaminyl (2), and N-tert-butoxy-2,4,6-tris(4-chlorophenyl)phenylaminyl radicals (3) was performed by cyclic voltammetry using acetonitrile as the solvent and Bu4NPF6 as the supporting electrolyte. On cathodic scan (100 mV/s), all the radicals gave chemically reversible cyclic voltammograms, and the E(1/2)(red)s were determined to be -1.405 V (1a), -1.310 V (2a), -1.282 V (2b), and -1. 195 V (3) (versus Fc(+)/Fc), respectively. On anodic scan (100 mV/s), on the other hand, 1a, 1b and 2 showed chemically reversible cyclic voltammograms, but 3 exhibited a partially reversible couple even on a scan rate of 500 mV/s, indicating that the cation species of 3 was less stable. The E(1/2)(ox)s determined for 1a, 1b, 2 and 3 were 0.220, 0.280, 0.318 and 0.294 V (versus Fc(+)/Fc), respectively. The electrochemical data were compared with those of thioaminyl radicals, the corresponding sulfur analogues of 1-3. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.