Radical Formation by Direct Single Electron Transfer between Nitrobenzene and Anionic Organo Bases

Nitroarene radicals (NARs) have been employed as versatile intermediate species in numerous applications,¹ being involved as transient species many organic transformation reactions,² and reactive species in bio-metabolic processes.³ However, due to the reactive nature of these radicals and non-trivial procedures requited for their preparation, strict electronic and structural limitations are imposed on the molecules that bear them, limiting the scope of what can be accomplished. Thus, counting with mechanisms that lead to a facile radical formation in simple reaction conditions, employing available and inexpensive reactants, and applicable to simple molecules, holds the key to exploit the extraordinary properties of these radicals.