Spin delocalization in 1-heteroallyl monoradicals as a measure of radical stabilization by heterovinyl substituents assessed through the EPR-spectral zero-field D parameter of 1,3-cyclopentanediyl triplet diradicals

The EPR-spectral zero-field splitting parameter D of the localized heterovinyl-substituted 1,3-cyclopentanediyl triplet diradicals T, generated in a 2-methyltetrahydrofuran (MTHF) glass matrix at 77 K through the photochemical deazetation of the corresponding azoalkanes 1-13, is a quantitative measure of the spin-density (rho) variation by the substituents at the radical site in the 1-heteroallylic radicals. From these data, the radical-stabilizing ability of a variety of nitrogen-containing groups has been assessed, which includes imino and hydrazonyl functionalities. The radical stabilization in the heteroallylic radical fragment follows the order X = O < NMe < CH2 < CHMe much less than NOH approximate to NOMe much less than NNHCHO approximate to NNHC(O)NH2 < NPh approximate to NNMe2 < NNH2 < CHPh < NNHPh. The lowest D values have been found for the hydrazonyl-substituted derivatives, which implies the lowest spin density at the carbon center and, thus, the most efficacious radical stabilization through spin delocalization. This superdelocalization may be rationalized in terms of nitrogen-centered radical-cationic structures. Localization of the spin at the terminal atom is resisted through the electronegativity effect (O < N < C).