Diazeniumdiolates, wherein the N1 position is substituted by an inorganic or organic moiety and the O2-oxygen is bound to a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic group, are provided. Also provided are O2-glycosylated 1-substituted diazen-1-ium-1,2-diolates (O2-glycosylated diazeniumdiolates) and O2-substituted 1-[(2-carboxylato)pyrrolidin-1-y]diazen-1-ium-1,2-diolates (1-[(2-carboxylato)öyrrolidin-1-yl]diazeniumdiolates). The O2-aryl diazeniumdiolates are stable with respect to the hydrolytic generation of nitric oxide in neutral to acidic solutions and generate nitric oxide in basic or nucleophilic environments or microenvironments. Also provided are compositions, including pharmaceutical compositions, comprising such compounds and methods of using such compounds.
