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Main group compounds

A stable, crystalline nitrogen chain radical

Nature Chemistry volume 18, pages 619–620 (2026) Cite this article

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Radical molecules and extended nitrogen chains are notoriously difficult to stabilize. Now, a series of molecules featuring four-atom nitrogen chain radical anions that are not supported by metals have been synthesized.

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Fig. 1: Crystallographic and computed structures of [1]·− and illustration of the stabilization by resonance delocalization of anion radical character.
The alternative text for this image may have been generated using AI.

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  1. X: @zdillalab

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  1. Department of Chemistry, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Michael J. Zdilla

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  1. Michael J. Zdilla
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Correspondence to Michael J. Zdilla.

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Zdilla, M.J. A stable, crystalline nitrogen chain radical. Nat. Chem. 18, 619–620 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41557-026-02108-7

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