Current approach to the problem of nitrenium ions

This review is devoted to the chemistry of nitrenium ions, which are highly reactive species whose bivalent nitrogen atom has an incomplete (sextet) electron shell and bears a formal positive charge. All known methods for generating these ions, including a nuclear chemical method developed by the authors, their reactions, structure, and also the role of nitrenium ions in the chemistry of nitrogen-containing compounds are examined. The bibliography includes 159 references.