Chapter 2: General Approaches to Synthesis of Nitroxides

This short review is aimed at introducing the largest family of stable organic free radicals, namely, nitroxides. For many years these compounds have attracted the attention of researchers working in various fields of chemistry, biology, physics, materials science, medicine, etc. General pathways leading to nitroxide group formation are described. The influence of structural factors upon nitroxide stability and redox properties are discussed. The most common nitroxide types are briefly characterized and general methods for their synthesis are listed.