Open-shell species are central to spintronics and infrared optoelectronics, but remain challenging to stabilize in discrete molecular systems. Herein, we report that electron injection into pillar-shaped, radially π-conjugated [4]cyclonaphthodithiophene diimides ([4]C-NDTIs) triggers global aromaticity, yielding radical species with notable stability and optical properties.

Efficient control over several possible reaction pathways of free radicals is the chemical basis of their highly selective transformations. Among various competing reaction pathways, sulfonimidyl radicals generated from the electrolysis of 2-alkynylbenzenesulfonamides undergo cascade migratory or ortho-cyclization cyclization selectively.

Using the potentially tridentate N,N’-bis(N-heterocyclic silylene)pyridine [SiNSi] pincer-type ligand, 2,6-N,N’-diethyl-bis[N,N’-di-tert-butyl(phenylamidinato)silylene] diaminopyridine, led to the first isolable bis(silylene)pyridine-stabilized manganese(0) complex, {к3-[SiNSi]Mn(dmpe)} 4 (dmpe = (Me2P)2C2H4), which represents an isolobal 17 VE analogue of the elusive Mn(CO)5 radical.