Nitrogen‐Centered Organic Persistent Radicals Catalyze Redox‐Neutral C─C Bond Forming Reactions

Abstract

Abstract We report that nitrogen‐centered persistent radicals, Kuhn verdazyls, are effective, tunable ground‐state redox organocatalysts for single electron transfer (SET)‐initiated radical transformations. Verdazyls uniquely emulate catalytic single‐electron shuttling, a hallmark of redox catalysis, without light or external stimuli. They enable redox‐neutral C─C bond‐forming reactions, such as C─H arylation and C─H trifluoromethylation, typically driven by transition metals, photoredox catalysts, or mechanoredox mediators, while avoiding the self‐inhibition that limits organic super electron donors and nitroxides in such applications.