Abstract 2, 2-Diphenylbenzoquinolinenitroxide radicals were obtained starting from 2-phenyl- , 2-cyano, 4-cyano-benzoquinoline N-oxides, or from unsubstituted benzoquinoline N- oxides with phenylmagnesium bromide. The elimination of bromomagnesium hydride from the 2-unsubstituted benzoquinoline N-oxides and cyanomagnesium bromide from the 2-or 4- cyanobenzoquinoline N-oxides is discussed.