Electronic properties of charged fullerenes characterized by EPR and Vis-NIR spectroscopy

EPR and Vis-NIR absorption spectra have both been measured for clarification of contradictory statements about the para-and diamagnetic states of fullerenes. Thereby identification of one sharp EPR signal in solution at room temperature to C ₆₀ ^? (g=2.000±4.0001; ΔB=0.07±0.01 mT) could be made upon using different fullerene sources (TechnoCarbo, Hoechst) and methods of anion generation (chemically, electrochemically, and photochemically). This fact is also supported by the similar observation for a monosubstituted derivative (g=1.9999; ΔB=0.10 mT), in which a small broadening of this sharp signal is found originating from additional¹H hyperfine interactions. Furthermore theg-values of the radical anions of C₆₀ increase with charge (g(C ₆₀ ^? <g(C ₆₀ ^2? ) < <g(C ₆₀ ^3? ) <g(C ₆₀ ^5? )) indicating largest contributions from spin-orbit coupling for the monoanion. No diamagnetic states for the dianions of [60]- and [70]- fullerenes could be found so far but biradical species with largest zero field splittingsD=2.7 mT (C ₆₀ ^2? ), andD=3.1 mT (C ₇₀ ^2? ), respectively. The cation formation of C₆₀ (g=2.0023-2.0029; ΔB=0.15-0.20 mT) with antimony pentachloride was controlled by mass spectrometry. Stable cations were found only in methylenechloride. In other solvents like toluene addition reactions seem to occur.