Boron-containing radical species

Radicals are ubiquitously involved in numerous chemical and biological processes. They exhibit unique chemical bonding and physical properties applicable to functional materials. With respect to carbon and nitrogen, boron is commonly viewed as a lone-pair electrons acceptor and less often considered as a spin-carrier associated with radicals. In recent years, however, boron-containing radicals have attracted more and more interest on account of their potential applications such as chemical sensors, reagents in organic synthesis, initiators for polymerization and components of extended magnetic systems. This review presents the synthesis, characterization, and reactivity of persistent and stable boron-containing radicals in conjunction with theoretical calculations.