Exceptionally Persistent Nitrogen-Centered Free Radicals. Syntheses, ESR Spectra, Isolation, and X-ray Crystallographic Structures of N-(Arylthio)-2-tert-butyl-4,6-diarylphenylaminyl and N-(Arylthio)-4-tert-butyl-2,6-diarylphenylaminyl Radicals(1).

The preparation, ESR spectra, isolation, and X-ray crystallographic structure of N-(arylthio)-2-tert-butyl-4,6-diarylphenylaminyls (1) and N-(arylthio)-4-tert-butyl-2,6-diarylphenylaminyls (2) are described. The aminyls are generated by PbO(2) oxidation of N-(arylthio)-2-tert-butyl-4,6-diarylanilines and N-(arylthio)-4-tert-butyl-2,6-diarylanilines. The kinetic ESR study shows that the aminyls are quite persistent, even in the presence of oxygen, and exist in the individual radical forms.