2-Arylindane-1,3-diones – A New Class of Radical-active Compounds

Being cyclic β-diketones, 2-arylindane-1,3-diones play an active part in radical reactions: they react vigorously with stable radicals, inhibit the autoxidation of hydrocarbons and polymers, accelerate radical polymerisation, are effective chain-transfer agents in polymerisation, and are oxidised by oxygen and inorganic oxidants. In several radical reactions they behave like phenols, and are more reactive than the latter. A list of 141 references is included.