Journal of the American Chemical Society, Vol.133, No.36, 14240-14243, 2011
Synthesis, Crystal Structure, and Physical Properties of Sterically Unprotected Hydrocarbon Radicals
We have prepared and isolated neutral polycyclic hydrocarbon radicals. A butyl-substituted radical gave single crystals, in which a pi-dimeric structure, not a a-bonded dimer, was observed, even though steric protection was absent. Thermodynamic stabilization due to the highly spin-deloralind structure contributes effectively to the suppression of a-bond formation.