The magnetochemistry of verdazyl radical-based materials

Stable organic radicals have received much attention as building blocks for the construction of molecular magnetic materials because they are readily functionalized using modem synthetic techniques. In this context, the nitroxide radical family has been the dominant class of radicals in molecular magnetochemistry. However, other stable radical systems have also been explored. One such example is the verdazyl family of radicals. Their high chemical stability and synthetic versatility make verdazyls one of the more attractive alternatives to nitroxides in molecular magnet design. This article reviews the magnetism of verdazyl-based systems, including through-bond coupling in polyradicals, coordination complexes and intermolecular interactions in the solid state. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.