A term used to characterize
radicals which have lifetimes of several minutes or greater in
dilute solution in
inert solvents. Persistence is a kinetic or reactivity property. In contrast, radical
stability, which is a thermodynamic property, is expressed in terms of the
C–H
bond strength of the appropriate hydrocarbon. The
lifetime of a radical is profoundly influenced by steric
shielding of the radical centre by bulky substituents.
Source:
PAC, 1994, 66, 1077
(Glossary of terms used in physical organic chemistry (IUPAC Recommendations 1994))
on page 1150