Radical anion

Sodium naphthalene, a salt containing the radical anion of naphthalene as the anion

In organic chemistry, a radical anion is a free radical species[1] that carries a negative charge. Radical anions are encountered in organic chemistry as reduced derivatives of polycyclic aromatic compounds, e.g. sodium naphthenide. An example of a non-carbon radical anion is the superoxide anion, formed by transfer of one electron to an oxygen molecule. Radical anions are typically indicated by .

  1. ^ IUPAC, Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 2nd ed. (the "Gold Book") (1997). Online corrected version: (2006–) "radical ion". doi:10.1351/goldbook.R05073