Since the discovery in 1922 of 2,2-diphenyl-1-(2,4,6-trinitrophenyl) hydrazyl stable free radical (DPPH·), the chemistry of such open-shell compounds has developed continuously, allowing for both theoretical and practical advances in the free radical chemistry area. This review presents the important, general and modern aspects of the chemistry of hydrazyl free radicals and the science behind it.
Keywords: ESR; free radical; hydrazyl; mechanism; organic synthesis; redox; spin.