Published online by Cambridge University Press: 25 February 2011
Similarities in the molecular energy levels of alkylcarbazoles and aliphatic nitroxides motivate the detailed study of 4,4′-(butadiyne-l,4-diyl)-bis-(2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-hydroxypiperidin-l-oxyl) () as a precursor to a ferromagnetic polymer. A more convenient synthetic route to is reported, and an X-ray-induced transformation of the β-phase of to the α-phase has been observed. The magnetic properties of and derived polymers have been studied using a SQUID system. The observed level of ferromagnetism found in samples of polymerized is comparable to the amount of trace iron materials detected in these samples.