Series of stable nitrogen radical chains synthesised

Structure

Source: © Reece Lister-Roberts et al 2026

These compounds may find uses as nitrene precursors

Several stable radical chains with multiple nitrogen atoms have now been synthesised, with some persisting at room temperature for several weeks. The researchers behind the work say that this stability may allow such compounds to act as a storable source of nitrenes, a typically hard-to-contain reagent.