An aryl radical in organic chemistry is a reactive intermediate and an arene compound incorporating one free radical carbon atom as part of the ring structure.
Aryl bromides and iodides can be converted to aryl radicals via tributyltin hydride and related compounds and silyl hydrides.
Aryl halides can also be converted via electrochemical cathodic reduction The mushroom Stephanospora caroticolor is suspected to generate an aryl radical as part of its biological chemical defence mechanism.
The parent phenyl radical has been identified by electron paramagnetic resonance and UV spectroscopy.
Several reactions of synthetic utility in which aryl radicals feature are: