Nitroxide radicals

The proton hyperfine constants have been measured, using N.M.R., for a series of sterically hindered alkyl aryl nitroxides. Computer reconstructions of the electron resonance spectra show that the coupling constants obtained from the pure radical are very similar to those obtained from the electron resonance spectra of dilute solutions. Comparison of methyl and proton splittings in identical positions suggests that the radicals are σ in character although the molecular-orbital calculations are unable to distinguish between σ or π radicals.