Wang D,
Chen W,
Chen H,
Chen Y,
Ye S *,
Tan G *.
Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, P. R. China
Isolation and Characterization of a Triplet Nitrene.
Nat. Chem. 2025;
17: 38-43
DOI:
10.1038/s41557-024-01669-9
Keywords
triplet nitrene - open-shell nitrogen - nitrene reactivity - steric hindrance - hydrindacene
Significance
Nitrenes, fleeting yet important intermediates in organic synthesis, have long evaded
isolation due to their chemical instability. The authors here report on the successful
trapping and isolation of a triplet nitrene, facilitated by a bulky hydrindacene ligand.
Comment
Besides the steric protection, the hydrindacene ligand also assists the nitrene with
its stability through π-delocalization. The favorable persistence allows for both
crystallographic and spectroscopic characterization of the nitrene under ambient conditions.
