Synthesis and structure of a nucleoside with pi-conjugated nitroxide spin label forming a one-dimensional ferromagnetic chain

Spin labeled 2'-deoxyuridine, in which a significant fraction of the spin density is delocalized from a nitroxide radical to the DNA base residue, was prepared as a crystalline solid, stable at ambient conditions. The crystal packing, which includes multiple hydrogen bonds, leads to one-dimensional chains of molecules with predominant intrachain ferromagnetic coupling and weaker interchain antiferromagnetic coupling.