Synthesis, crystal structures and electronic properties of imidazoline nitroxide radicals bearing active groups in electropolymerisation

Thiophene-, phenylthiophene-, and indole-based nitronyl nitroxide (NN) and imino nitroxide (IN) radicals have been synthesised and their electrochemical and magnetic properties have been studied. Cyclic voltammetry measurements show that NN radicals (1–3) exhibit a one-electron quasi-reversible oxidation process that results in the formation of the corresponding nitrosonium cations. This behaviour pushes the oxidation potential of the other redox-active moiety to very high values. The oxidation of the thiophene subunit occurs at 2.35 V, whereas the oxidation of the phenylthiophene and indole moieties takes place at 1.65 and 1.39 V, respectively. Oxidation of IN radicals (4–5) is irreversibl…