Solvent solvated electron with nitrate

Cation-radicals of naphthalene and its homologues, pyrene, or perylene react with NOj" ion in AN, giving electron-transfer products, that is, ArH and NOj. The latter radical is not very active in these reactions and nitration takes place only with extremely reactive compounds such as perylene (Eberson and Radner 1985, 1986). This mechanism is seemingly distinctive of compounds with E° less or equal to 1 V in AN (or in other solvents solvating NOj ions sparingly). 

---