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Related Concept Videos

Radical Formation: Overview01:03

Radical Formation: Overview

A bond can be broken either by heterolytic bond cleavage to form ions or homolytic bond cleavage to yield radicals. A fishhook arrow is used to represent the motion of a single electron in homolytic bond cleavage. There are two main sources from which radicals can be formed:
Radicals from spin-paired molecules:
Radicals can be obtained from spin-paired molecules either by homolysis or electron transfer. While two radicals are formed in the former, an electron is added in the latter, also known...
Radical Reactivity: Overview01:11

Radical Reactivity: Overview

Radicals, the highly reactive species, gain stability by undergoing three different reactions. The first reaction involves a radical-radical coupling, in which a radical combines with another radical, forming a spin‐paired molecule. The second reaction is between a radical and a spin‐paired molecule, generating a new radical and a new spin‐paired molecule. The third reaction is radical decomposition in a unimolecular reaction, forming a new radical and a spin‐paired molecule. These three...
Radical Reactivity: Steric Effects01:10

Radical Reactivity: Steric Effects

The presence of electron-donating, electron-withdrawing, or conjugating groups adjacent to a radical center, imparts electronic stabilization to the radicals. Examples of such electronically-stabilized radicals are triphenylmethyl, tetramethylpiperidine‐N‐oxide, and 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl. These radicals are remarkably stable and are known as persistent radicals. Some of the persistent radicals can even be isolated and purified.
Along with electronic factors, steric factors also account...
Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) Spectroscopy: Organic Radicals01:17

Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) Spectroscopy: Organic Radicals

Ideally, an unpaired electron shows a single peak in the EPR spectrum due to the transition between the two spin energy states. However, coupling interactions can occur between the spins of the unpaired electron and any neighboring spin-active nuclei. This hyperfine coupling results in hyperfine splitting, where the EPR signal is split into multiplets. The signals split into 2nI + 1 peaks, where n is the number of equivalent nuclei and I is the nuclear spin. These splitting patterns provide...
Radical Formation: Addition00:47

Radical Formation: Addition

Radicals can be formed by adding a radical to a spin-paired molecule. This is typically observed with unsaturated species, where the addition of a radical across the π bond leads to the production of a new radical by dissolving the π bond. For example, the addition of a Br radical to an alkene yields a carbon-centered radical.
Similar to charge conservation in chemical reactions, spin conservation is implicit for radical reactions. Accordingly, the product formed must possess an unpaired...
Radical Reactivity: Nucleophilic Radicals01:16

Radical Reactivity: Nucleophilic Radicals

Radicals adjacent to electron-donating groups are called nucleophilic radicals. These radicals readily react with electrophilic alkenes. The SOMO–LUMO interactions are the driving force for the reaction, where the high-energy SOMO of the electron-rich, nucleophilic radicals interacts with the low-energy LUMO of the electron-deficient, electrophilic alkenes. Such SOMO–LUMO interactions are the basis of reactive radical traps, affecting the selectivity in radical reactions. For instance, consider...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 15, 2026

Detection of Nitric Oxide and Superoxide Radical Anion by Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Spectroscopy from Cells using Spin Traps
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Detection of Nitric Oxide and Superoxide Radical Anion by Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Spectroscopy from Cells using Spin Traps

Published on: August 18, 2012

Organic radicals as spin filters.

Carmen Herrmann1, Gemma C Solomon, Mark A Ratner

  • 1Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, USA. c-herrmann@northwestern.edu

Journal of the American Chemical Society
|March 3, 2010
PubMed
Summary

Organic radicals function as tunable spin filters in molecular spintronics. By modifying substituents, researchers can control filtering of majority- or minority-spin electrons for advanced spintronic devices.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular spintronics
  • Organic electronics
  • Quantum phenomena

Background:

  • Molecular spintronics utilizes electron spin properties for electronic applications.
  • Organic materials offer tunable electronic and spin properties, making them promising for spintronics.
  • Spin filters are crucial components for controlling spin-polarized currents.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the potential of organic radicals as spin filters.
  • To explore methods for tuning the spin-filtering capabilities of organic radicals.
  • To identify design principles for efficient spin filtering in organic systems.

Main Methods:

  • Theoretical modeling of spin-resolved electron transport through organic radical systems.
  • Computational analysis of benzene-based model systems.

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Rapid Scan Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Opens New Avenues for Imaging Physiologically Important Parameters In Vivo
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Detection of Nitric Oxide and Superoxide Radical Anion by Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Spectroscopy from Cells using Spin Traps
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  • Investigation of substituent effects (electron-donating/withdrawing) on spin filtering.

    • Main Results:

    • Organic radicals can act as spin filters in the coherent tunneling regime.
    • Electron-donating or -withdrawing substituents allow tuning of spin filtering for majority or minority spins.
    • Destructive interference leads to desirable dips in spin-resolved transmission for efficient filtering.
    • Predictions are transferable to larger, stable organic radicals.

    Conclusions:

    • Organic radicals are versatile building blocks for molecular spintronics.
    • Chemical modification provides a powerful route to engineer spin-filtering properties.
    • The findings pave the way for designing novel organic spintronic devices with tailored spin selectivity.