A two-step route to 1,3-disubstituted benzo- and pyrido-fused 1,2,4-triazinyl radicals is presented. The route involves the N′-(2-nitroarylation) of easily prepared N′-(het)arylhydrazides via nucleophilic aromatic substitution of 1-halo-2-nitroarenes, which in most cases gives N′-(het)aryl-N′-[2-nitro(het)aryl]hydrazides in good yields. Mild reduction of the nitro group followed by an acid-mediated cyclodehydration gives the fused triazines, which upon alkali treatment afford the desired radicals. Fifteen examples of radicals are presented bearing a range of substituents at N-1, C-3, and C-7, including the pyrid-2-yl and 8-aza analogues. This route to the N′-(het)aryl-N′-[2-nitro(het)aryl]hydrazides, which works well with benzo- and picolinohydrazides, required a modification for aceto- and trifluoroacetohydrazides that involved a multistep synthesis of asymmetrically 1,1-diaryl-substituted hydrazines.

Spectroscopic studies reveals broadband emission that spans the visible range originating from excited electronic states of the stable Blatter radical.