Synthesis of Aza‑<i>m</i>‑Xylylene Diradicals with Large Singlet–Triplet Energy Gap and Statistical Analyses of Their EPR Spectra

We describe synthesis and characterization of a derivative of aza-m-xylylene, diradical 2, that is persistent in solution at room temperature with the half-life measured in minutes (∼80–250 s) and in which the triplet ground state is below the lowest singlet state by >10 kcal mol–1. The triplet ground states and ΔEST of 2 in glassy solvent matrix are determined by a new approach based on statistical analyses of their EPR spectra. Characterization and analysis of the analogous diradical 1 are carried out for comparison. Statistical analyses of their EPR spectra reliably provide improved lower bounds for ΔEST (from >0.4 to >0.6 kcal mol–1) and are compatible with a wide range of relative contents of diradical vs monoradical, including samples in which the diradical and monoradical are minor and major components, respectively. This demonstrates a new powerful method for the determination of the triplet ground states and ΔEST applicable to moderately pure diradicals in matrices.