The structure of galvinoxyl, a stable phenoxyl radical

Abstract

The molecular structure and packing in crystalline galvinoxyl, a stable phenoxyl radical, have been determined by x-ray diffraction from two independent sets of data. The molecules pack as discrete units separated by normal van der Waals contacts. The molecule shows twofold rotation symmetry in the crystal. The observed bond angle at the methine carbon is 134 degrees, and the phenyl groups are twisted by 12 degrees. The radical C-O distance is 1·27 å. The tertiary butyl groups are found in a fully staggered conformation, including hydrogen atoms.