The reaction between the DPPH free radical and KCN in the presence of crown ether 18-C-6 - A correction

On synthesizing from authentic starting materials compounds 2 and 3, the pr oduct obtained in minor yield from KCN and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (D PPH) in the preasence of 18-C-6 was shown to have structure 3 and nor struc ture 2 as had been supposed initially. Mechanistic hypotheses are advanced to account for the formation of the two products, namely N,N-diphenyl-N'-(3 -cyano-2,4,6-trinitrophenyl)hydrazine and N,N-diphenyl-N'-(5-cyano-2,4-dini trophenyl)hydrazine 3, from KCN, DPPH and 18-C-6.