A chiral hydrogen-bonded alpha-phenyl nitronyl nitroxide in the solution and solid states

A new phenyl alpha-nitronyl nitroxide (R)-4LNN bearing a chiral substituent has been synthesized with the aim of combining in the near future the magn etic properties of this kind of radical with the optical properties endowed by the chiral group. This optically active carboxylic acid forms hydrogen bonds between the COOH and NO groups which control the solid state structur e, and consequently the magnetic properties. We present both the solid stat e structure and the magnetic susceptibility curve of this radical, as well as its solution properties, where it shows interesting aggregation phenomen a owing to the noncovalent interaction of the carboxylic acid moiety with t he NO groups.