Abstract
The current data on the structure of tervalent carbon radicals are examined and their principal spectroscopic characteristics are presented. The latest studies on the synthesis of stable hydrocarbon radicals, including ultrastable perchlorotriarylmethyl radicals, are considered together with classical investigations. In the discussion of chemical properties, much attention has been devoted to the dimerisation of triarylmethyls, since this problem has altered drastically the traditional concept of tervalent carbon radicals. Modern ideas concerning certain hydrocarbon biradicals are presented. The bibliography includes 150 referepces.